Nick Kyrgios could do something even greats like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Sampras, Agassi haven't done by winning Australian Open, says Mats Wilander

Mats Wilander recently suggested that Nick Kyrgios has the potential to achieve something that even tennis greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi have not accomplished by winning the Australian Open. Kyrgios is set to make his return to the court in 2025 after a prolonged absence due to injuries on his knee, foot, and wrist.

After finishing his 2022 season by playing doubles alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis at the ATP Finals, Kyrgios only competed in one match in 2023 at the Stuttgart Open against Wu Yibing. He then took a break from the sport in 2024 to focus on recovering from his injuries.

It was recently announced that the Australian will be making his comeback in 2025 and will be starting his season at Brisbane International. He will play doubles alongside Novak Djokovic at the ATP 250 tournament in Queensland.

While speaking to Eurosport, Mats Wilander praised Nick Kyrgios for 'revolutionizing' tennis in various ways. He expressed his belief that if Kyrgios were to win the 2025 Australian Open, it would make him a complete player, ticking all the necessary boxes.

“I think Nick has revolutionised the sport in many ways. Players are actually using part of his arsenal or his repertoire. Now, here's another statement, if Nick goes out, and he plays his absolute best tennis, and if he wins the Grand Slam, I believe maybe for the first time ever, a single player would have ticked every single box that you can tick," Wilander said.

Wilander highlighted Kyrgios' competitive nature, brilliant "mental attitude," "variety of crazy shot-making" abilities, and sense of humor as qualities that set him apart.

The Swede suggested that if the former World No.13 were to win the Melbourne Major with all these qualities then he would achieve something that even tennis legends like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Sampras, and Agassi did not accomplish.

"He is competitive, the level is high, the mental attitude is brilliant, the repertoire and the variety of crazy shot-making and the jokes he cracks, no one has ever done it all. Nick Kyrgios has a chance to do it all," he added.

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Nick Kyrgios won the Australian Open men's doubles title in 2022

Nick Kyrgios with Thanasi Kokkinakis with the 2022 Australian Open doubles trophy [Source: Getty]

Nick Kyrgios is yet to secure a singles Australian Open title. His best performance in the singles event was reaching the quarterfinals in 2015, where he fell to eventual runner-up Andy Murray.

In 2022, Kyrgios teamed up with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis for the doubles event at the Melbourne Major. The Aussie pair received a wildcard entry into the main draw and kicked off their campaign by defeating another Australian wildcard pair, Alex Bolt and James McCabe 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis then overcame the top-seeded pair of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 7-6(8), 6-3, and then defeated Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second and third rounds, respectively.

In the quarterfinals, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis won over the duo of Tim Putz and Michael Venus with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 and then went on to register a 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos to secure their spot in the final.

In an all-Australian final, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis defeated Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell with a score of 7–5, 6–4 to win the 2022 Australian Open men's doubles title.