Nick Kyrgios, the mercurial Australian tennis star, finds himself at a pivotal moment in his career following a swift 58-minute defeat in the first round of the doubles event at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. Partnering with French showman Gael Monfils, Kyrgios fell 6-2, 6-2 to third seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin on July 21, 2025, in his first ATP Tour match since March. The loss, marked by visible discomfort from a lingering knee injury, has intensified speculation about the 30-year-old’s future in professional tennis as he prepares for the US Open, where he holds a protected ranking of No. 21.
The match at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center drew a massive crowd, including NBA star Kevin Durant, eager to witness the electrifying Kyrgios-Monfils duo. However, the anticipated spectacle never materialized. Monfils was broken in the opening game, and while Kyrgios held his first serve, both players struggled, losing their serves again to drop the first set 6-2. The second set followed a similar script, with Monfils broken early and Kyrgios late, sealing the straight-sets defeat. “Knee cooked but fans still f***ed with us,” Kyrgios posted on Instagram, his trademark candor reflecting both frustration and gratitude for the support. The loss underscored the physical toll of his injury-plagued career, with knee, wrist, and foot issues limiting him to just 10 matches—six singles and four doubles—since his 2022 Wimbledon final run.
Kyrgios, once ranked as high as No. 13, had initially entered the DC Open singles draw using his protected ranking but withdrew, opting for doubles to ease his comeback. “I wanted to play singles, but six weeks ago I had a bit of a niggle with my knee,” he explained, highlighting the cautious approach necessitated by his latest setback. The Washington event, where Kyrgios won both singles and doubles titles in 2019 and 2022, holds special significance for him. “I mean just to be back here, after my wrist injury and my knee injury, I never thought that I’d be back at a tournament like this playing ever again, to be honest,” he said before the tournament, reflecting on his improbable return to the court.
The defeat raises critical questions about Kyrgios’s path forward. His 2025 season has been a battle against persistent injuries, including a grade 1 abdominal strain at the Brisbane International and a knee issue that forced him to skip the French Open and Wimbledon. At the Australian Open in January, he suffered a straight-sets loss to Jacob Fearnley, admitting, “Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing a singles match here again.” His booming serve, once a fearsome weapon, was neutralized by pain, and his mobility was visibly compromised in Washington. Yet, Kyrgios remains defiant, posting on social media, “Say what you want… you watched,” a bold message to critics and fans alike.
With the US Open looming, starting August 25, Kyrgios is set to compete in singles, using his protected ranking, and in the reimagined mixed doubles event alongside Naomi Osaka. The partnership, pairing two former Grand Slam champions, has generated buzz, but doubts linger about his physical readiness. His limited court time—only nine matches this year—contrasts with his storied past, including a 2022 Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis and a near-miss at Wimbledon singles. Off the court, Kyrgios has embraced a media career, hosting “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios” and providing commentary, but his passion for competition persists. “I want to play. I want to play,” he insisted after withdrawing from Indian Wells in March due to wrist pain.
The tennis community is divided on Kyrgios’s future. Some fans celebrate his charisma and shot-making brilliance, while others question whether his body can withstand the rigors of professional tennis. His recent split from longtime partner Costeen Hatzi in March 2025, after nearly four years, adds a personal dimension to his challenges, though he insists it allows him to focus on his career. As Kyrgios navigates this crossroads, his decision—whether to push through pain or shift toward a less demanding role in tennis—will shape his legacy as one of the sport’s most polarizing and captivating figures.
Leave a Reply