“I Never Expected to Play Tennis Again”: Kyrgios Claims First Victory in Two and a Half Years in Dramatic Comeback

Nick Kyrgios has secured his first professional tennis victory in two and a half years.

The controversial Australian star triumphed over American Mackenzie McDonald in a thrilling three-set match at the Miami Open on Thursday morning.

At 29, Kyrgios stumbled out of the gate, losing the initial nine points and being broken in his opening service game, prompting him to glance towards his entourage and express his frustration.

One commentator remarked that he “seems displeased”.

It appeared as though the 2022 Wimbledon finalist might face another early exit, but Kyrgios rallied to win the second and third sets, sealing the match with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

This marks his first win since October 2022.

During this period, he encountered four losses, including one where he retired due to injury, and also granted his opponent a walkover.

Kyrgios has been grappling with significant injuries since his most notable achievement, which was reaching the Wimbledon final three years ago, where he fell to Novak Djokovic in four sets.

Earlier this year, he managed to win one set at the Brisbane International, marking his return from a persistent wrist issue.

He also made it to the Australian Open despite experiencing a side strain, only to lose in straight sets to Jacob Fearnley.

At Indian Wells this month, he was again forced to retire in his opening match, leading many to question his ability to compete on the ATP Tour.

Upon winning match point against McDonald on Thursday, the relief on Kyrgios’ face was evident.

“The wait is finally over,” the commentator declared.

“That victory has been long overdue, and it will taste incredibly sweet. After all the tough times, the rehabilitation… and he played some impressive tennis along the way.”

Following the match, Kyrgios expressed how meaningful the victory was.

“Given how my wrist has reacted over the last six months, it’s been tough,” Kyrgios shared. “Having this win against Mac, I was able to draw on my experience, but he’s such a skilled player, and he definitely surprised me.

“When I stepped onto the court, I wasn’t accustomed to that level of ball speed.

“It’s been quite a journey, just to arrive at the point where I could compete in matches and not finish them. But to come away with a win and feel like I’m back in the mix again, it’s pretty special.”

“Honestly, I thought I might never play tennis again, and it was heading in that direction,” he admitted. “I’ve had discussions with my team, the people who have come from their families to support me on this journey… I’ve been saying, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.’

“This win gives me a little more motivation, but I need to be realistic and see how my wrist feels tomorrow.”

Next up for Kyrgios is a clash against the powerful Russian player Karen Khachanov.