Nick Kyrgios has never been one to shy away from sharing his thoughts on the state of the tennis world, and with the changing landscape of the sport in recent years, the Australian star has certainly had a lot to say. With the retirement of tennis icons like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic nearing the twilight of his career, Kyrgios has openly expressed his opinion on how the sport is evolving. The era of the “Big Three” is coming to an end, and Kyrgios thinks it’s left the game feeling somewhat “bland.”
Kyrgios, who has been sidelined by a series of injuries over the last few seasons, shared his perspective on the state of tennis during a recent appearance on Nova 100’s Jase and Lauren radio show. He spoke about the changes that have taken place in the tennis world, especially with the retirement of two of the sport’s biggest legends. “I think it’s a very interesting time at the moment in the tennis world. Obviously, we see, you know, Djokovic, I think we could all say he’s at the tail end of his career,” said Kyrgios. “He’s still a phenomenal player, but Nadal, literally, today, officially, his last ever time we’re going to see him on the court. Federer is gone.”
The retirement of Federer, who was forced to step away from the sport after struggling with a knee injury and undergoing multiple surgeries, was a watershed moment in tennis. After his third surgery in the summer of 2021, Federer’s return was delayed, and he only played a final doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup, partnering with Nadal. That was a bittersweet farewell to one of the most decorated careers in the sport. In 2023, another member of the Big Three, Rafael Nadal, also officially said goodbye to professional tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. However, his retirement campaign was brief as Spain was eliminated early in the competition, ending his career on a sour note.
With two of tennis’s most beloved players stepping away from the game, and Novak Djokovic inching toward the end of his career, the next generation of stars has begun to rise. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, two of the most promising young talents, have been splitting Grand Slam titles in recent years, and many are wondering whether Djokovic’s dominance of the sport is now in the rearview mirror. Kyrgios, who is no stranger to offering bold opinions, made it clear that the shift in power is noticeable, and it’s something that leaves him feeling a bit detached from the current state of affairs.
“I think the game’s a bit bland at the moment,” Kyrgios added candidly. “There’s some amazing players still out there, but I think it’s missing the intensity, the rivalry, the personalities that we had in the past. You don’t have those epic, explosive matchups anymore. It’s just not the same.” While the younger generation of players has certainly brought fresh energy to the sport, Kyrgios feels something is missing from the on-court atmosphere, something that was present during the heated rivalries of the Big Three era.
Kyrgios’s frustration with the current landscape doesn’t stop at the loss of iconic players. The outspoken 29-year-old also expressed his dislike for the level of camaraderie among players on the ATP Tour, which he finds unappealing. Throughout his career, Kyrgios has been known for his fiery personality and his willingness to speak his mind, often clashing with his fellow competitors. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to criticizing the current state of relationships among the players.
“And, you know, everyone’s liking each other, and everyone’s friends with each other. And I just, I hate that s—, to be honest. Everyone’s everyone’s best mate,” Kyrgios said, showing his disdain for the increasingly friendly atmosphere on tour. For Kyrgios, the sport has lost some of its edge with players becoming more chummy and less competitive off the court.
Despite his blunt comments, Kyrgios’s desire to return to the tour in 2025 is clear. He’s been sidelined by injuries for the last two seasons, with a knee injury forcing him to miss a significant portion of 2022 and early 2023. In addition to his knee problems, Kyrgios also underwent wrist surgery, which was a major setback for the Australian, leaving many wondering if he would ever return to his peak form. There were even moments when it seemed unlikely that he would ever fully recover from the wrist injury.
“I had a lot of friends and also a lot of people that didn’t get along with me, which I think is completely normal in sport,” Kyrgios said when discussing his comeback. “I think the tennis world needs a bit more of that.” Kyrgios is not shy about the rivalries and tensions that naturally come with competitive sport. He’s been a polarizing figure in the tennis world for years, and he believes that a bit more animosity and edge is needed to make the sport more compelling. Whether or not fellow players are eager to see him back on the court, Kyrgios is confident that his return will stir the pot. He’s prepared for mixed reactions but feels that the drama and conflict that come with such a return would only benefit the sport.
For Kyrgios, the pain of missing out on the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 has been especially difficult. He was on track to contend for the title in 2023 before injuries derailed his plans, and the thought of making his comeback at his home Grand Slam in 2025 has him excited. Despite everything he’s been through physically, including the risk of never returning to the sport, Kyrgios remains upbeat about his future in tennis.
“Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve felt in two years,” Kyrgios told Nine News recently. “I played that amazing year in 2022. Then, at the finals in Wimbledon and the US Open, that’s when I started feeling some issues in my wrist. I had that wrist reconstruction, and now I’m feeling amazing. It was a 15% miracle chance that I was going to get back to playing at this level and here we are.” After a long recovery and rehabilitation process, Kyrgios is back in top form and ready to make his long-awaited return to the ATP Tour in January 2025 at the Brisbane International.
With the tennis world undergoing a massive shift and the Big Three era coming to a close, Nick Kyrgios is ready to bring his fiery, unapologetic personality back to the sport. He may not have many fans among his fellow players, but Kyrgios believes his return will be just what tennis needs to inject some excitement and intensity back into the game. Whether he’s playing on the court or stirring up drama off it, one thing is certain: Kyrgios will not go unnoticed as the new era of tennis continues to take shape.