Nick Kyrgios has been tipped to make his return to tennis at the French Open despite not playing a professional singles match in seven months.
The Australian star has not featured at Roland-Garros in six years and is not a fan of clay courts due to fact it does not suit his big-hitting playing style.
He has previously labelled the French Open as ‘the worst Grand Slam’, saying that it ‘sucked’ and wanted it axed from the tennis calendar completely.
Kyrgios has only played once in 2023 – an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic in January – amid various injuries and subsequent knee surgery.
But tennis officials are convinced Kyrgios will play the second major tournament of the year in Paris after missing his home Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
The 28-year-old, notorious for his behaviour on and off the court, last featured in a professional singles match in October 2022 at the Japan Open.
He said that he was keen to return for the French Open, which gets started at the end of May, as his girlfriend ‘wants to see Paris’ and he remains on the entry list.
‘Yes, I’m playing the French Open,’ Kyrgios said in December. ‘My girlfriend (Costeen Hatzi) wants to see Paris, so why not?
‘Pick up some more money (in Paris) … I’ve played well on clay, I’ve beaten [Roger] Federer, [Stan] Wawrinka, I’ve played a final on clay [in Estoril in 2015].
‘But usually at that time of year I like spending time at home. Because if I don’t, then I’m travelling for eight months a year. It’s too much. But she likes Paris so why not?’
Kyrgios, currently ranked world No.26, was in the form of his life last year, registering a runner-up finish at Wimbledon and winning a Grand Slam doubles title at the Australian Open alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.
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