“Being back out there was an amazing feeling. It’s been a long journey, but I couldn’t be prouder of myself and my team,” expressed Kyrgios. “The work we’ve put in to come back and compete against someone like Casper (Ruud) was tough, but it felt great to be back in front of the fans and still play some good tennis.”
If I can find a way to continue playing matches and tournaments, I’ll be back very soon.
Nick Kyrgios on his return to the tour
Kyrgios shared that the overwhelming emotion after the match was relief, especially considering his doctors were not very optimistic about his comeback prospects.
“Honestly, it was just relief. The surgeon had told me that I might be able to open a jar or twist a doorknob without pain after the surgery, so to be able to play tennis at this level and perform like this is pretty unbelievable.”
Earlier in the day, Kyrgios had mentioned his goal of returning in time for the Australian summer in January, but he remained cautious after his victory, waiting to see how his wrist would feel the next day.
“We’ll wait and see how my wrist recovers tomorrow. The level is still there. If I can find a way to keep playing matches and tournaments, I’ll be back on the court very soon.”
The Australian will next play against Gael ‘Le Monf’ Monfils on Friday with a chance to secure a spot in the finals.
