Nick Kyrgios delivers important fitness update amid new injury concerns: "No player has ever had this surgery and come back"

Nick Kyrgios' return to tennis after prolonged struggles with injuries ended in a loss. The Aussie went down fighting against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 6-7(3) in a marathon tussle at the Brisbane International.

Playing in his first match in over two years, Kyrgios turned in a fine display on serve. Neither player, in fact, was broken for the entirety of the match. Perricard took home the win by playing big points in tiebreakers well.

The Aussie, meanwhile, needed a medical timeout at the end of the opening set to address a niggle with his arm. Elaborating on the intervention during his post-match press conference, he justified needing medical attention after having undergone a surgery that, according to him, no other tennis player has undergone.

"Well, I mean, look, I've got six holes in my hand, like I've got six holes in my hand and one in my arm," Nick Kyrgios said. "Yeah, not one tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back and tried to play again."

"It's all really an experimental kind of -- the surgeon, like, yeah, if you ever go back and play at this level again, it's on you guys," he continued. "I don't really have any protocol of how it's going to be or how it's going to pull up."

Notably, Kyrgios had last year revealed that he would need an experimental surgery to reduce the pain in his arm and permanent arthritis. Having undergone the procedure and complaint the recovery, he is now back competing.

The Aussie added that he and his trainer were taking things as they come because they never know how his body will react to competition.

"So me and my physio, we are taking it as it comes. If we can get through a match, we get through a match. How it pulls up tomorrow, I have no idea. It's throbbing like shit right now," he added.

Kyrgios is next expected to compete at the Australian Open, which commences with main draw action on January 12. He is still competing at the Brisbane International in doubles with Novak Djokovic.

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"The crowd was amazing today" - Nick Kyrgios after playing first singles match in two years at Brisbane

Nick Kyrgios in action at the 2025 Brisbane International. (Source: Getty)

Nick Kyrgios also reflected on the experience of playing in front of a packed home crowd after a long time during his press conference, dubbing the overall atmosphere "amazing".

The Aussie said he felt the love from the fans, especially given the uncertainty of him returning to the event in the future.

"I had a lot of adrenaline going through my body," Nick Kyrgios said. "The crowd was amazing today. I really appreciate everyone coming out, full crowd, sold out for two days straight now. I definitely feel the love."

"Yeah, I didn't take it for granted. I don't know if I'll ever be back on that court again. Obviously maybe for doubles. When I was leaving today, I could definitely feel like it was, yeah, it was special," he added.

Kyrgios' return to competition has been mixed, with him scoring a big win in doubles with partner Novak Djokovic in the Brisbane opener. He, however, could not translate that success onto the singles court. The Aussie will now have his eyes set on doing well at his home Slam, the Australian Open.