Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios back and determined to 'shut up' his critics

The former Wimbledon finalist has been plagued by knee, foot, and wrist injuries, limiting him to just one ATP singles match over the past two years.

Despite frequently hinting at retirement, Kyrgios confirmed on the Code Sports podcast that he plans to return to the court at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi in December, ahead of competing in the 2024 Australian Open.

"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he said.

"I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.

"But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.

"That'll be my deep motivation."

Reflecting on the early days of his career and being known as the "bad boy" of tennis, Kyrgios said he felt misunderstood, though he acknowledged he was very different from the typical tennis player.

"I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," the 29-year-old added.

"I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."

With long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retiring and Novak Djokovic now 37, Kyrgios feels that men's tennis has entered a new era of unpredictability, leaving the field wide open for new champions to emerge.

"The game is the most open it has ever been," he added.

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