Nick Kyrgios has vowed to "shut up" his haters by achieving a feat that has become a constant topic in the media.
Multiple injuries have plagued the former world No.13 ever since he suffered leg pain against Karen Khachanov at the 2022 US Open quarter-finals, with repetitive questions around his future in the sport unsurprising after appearing in one competitive match in two years.
The 29-year-old reached the 2022 Wimbledon final where he lost to good friend Novak Djokovic despite clinching the first set.
But now, Kyrgios has revealed that he wishes to go one better and intends to return at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi before the Australian Open.
"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he told News Corp’s 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."
During his injury break, the Canberra-born Aussie has appeared in the commentary booth for Eurosport and ESPN to cover Grand Slam tennis.
Kyrgios’ ‘bad boy’ tag has never seemed to escape him throughout his controversial career, but in his eyes, he is the complete opposite.
"I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said.
"I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."
Long-serving Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley spoke to the media last Thursday during the offical 2025 Australian Open launch as he shared his optimism around Kyrgios’ chances appearing on court in the first major of the year.
"The confidence that we get about Nick playing is in his preparation, we know he's doing more than he's done before," said Tiley.
"We know that he wants to do it. We know that he's mentally preparing to get ready to play in January. So we fully expect to see him."
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