Nick Kyrgios has stated he does not expect to compete at the French Open – but is doing everything he can to take part in Wimbledon. The Australian has featured little since he underwent wrist surgery in September 2023 to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.

This year, he played mixed doubles at the Australian Open alongside Canadian star Leylah Fernandez, reaching the second round before losing to James Tracy of the USA and Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan. He has not featured in a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open, not long after losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon. The former World No. 13 has played little singles tennis ever since, although he did beat World No. 1 women’s player Aryna Sabalenka in the latest rendition of the Battle of the Sexes in Dubai. However, the Australian is targeting a return to Wimbledon, but does not expect to take part in the upcoming clay court season.

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In an interview with Tennishead, Kyrgios was asked about the French Open, which begins on May 24, and Wimbledon which commences on Monday June 29. He replied: “The clay court and I have an interesting relationship—maybe not this year, but next year is a possibility.”

“I’m working toward Wimbledon and will be playing in Stuttgart and Mallorca this June. Just want to give a quick shoutout to Mallorca, I can’t wait to come there to the tournament this year It’s one of my favorite events, the fans are amazing, I can’t wait to be back on the grass playing some really, really high-level tennis.”

As a result of the small amount of tennis competitions he has participated in, Kyrgios was recently asked by NBA legend Allen Iverson if he had more or less retired from tennis and, if not, why not? On his podcast, Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios, he clarified his retirement stance by saying: “All I do now is play for the fans.

“I still have a massive following. Now, I just enjoy going out there for the fans and putting on a crazy show, seeing the kids out there, that’s basically why I’m playing now.”

A tone of unfinished business became present in Kyrgios’ voice when he started speaking about his painful Wimbledon final loss to Djokovic in 2022. He said: “I played finals of Wimbledon a couple of years ago, and I played Novak Djokovic in the final. I won the first set, I’m right there, two sets away from basically becoming immortal in the sport.

“I think about it every day, it still bothers me, and I still get asked about it. I got so close… I think about it, and I feel like now, I’m not physically… I’ve had four surgeries, three surgeries in the last couple of years. So I feel my body isn’t as elite as it used to be.

“You know what happens when you start declining physically and athletically? You know that your level is still there a little bit, but you can’t back it up as frequently. In tennis, to win a Grand Slam, that’s all everyone cares about.

“You could have an amazing season, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have a Grand Slam, you’ll be forgotten. I was right there, and I just didn’t capitalise on it. Now, I’m still playing, but whether or not I’ll have that opportunity again, I’m not sure.”