Nick Kyrgios has confirmed when he will return to tennis, vowing to 'shut people up' after only playing one competitive match in two years.
The enigmatic Australian star has battled knee and wrist injuries since October 2022, not long after he lost to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
However, after easing himself back in to the sport with a few exhibition matches in recent months, the 29-year-old is ready for his professional return.
MORE: Nick Kyrgios next match: Results, current ranking and total prize money won
When will Nick Kyrgios return to professional tennis?
Kyrgios has confirmed he will return to the professional tennis circuit for December's World Tennis League tournament in Abu Dhabi.
And the outspoken Aussie had a message for the people doubting he could return to his best.
“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game,” Kyrgios told Code Sports.
“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.”
The event in Abu Dhabi will see the Australian prepare for the 2025 tennis season, with Australian Open boss Craig Tiley stating the star will be playing at Melbourne Park.
“We would love to have Nick back playing in 2025. We believe he will be – he’s out there practising and playing,” Tiley said in a press conference about Australian Open 2025.
“I’ve been in touch with his team in the last couple of days, and he’s fully expecting to play. We expect to see Nick on the court, playing.
“The confidence that we get about Nick playing is we know he’s doing more than he’s done before, we know that he wants to do it.”
Kyrgios hasn't played a professional tennis match since June 2023, struggling with wrist, knee and foot injuries.
His last Grand Slam tournament match was a quarter-final loss to Karen Khachanov at the US Open in 2022.
The 29-year-old has been building to return from injury, competing in two exhibition events prior to the recent US Open.
Kyrgios played mixed doubles with Naomi Osaka at the US Open Mixed Madness 2024 and then defeated Casper Ruud at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in New York a few days later.
