"People thought I was like a murderer" - Grand Slam-eyeing Nick Kyrgios believes he's moved past his 'bad boy' perception as he gears up for comeback

Nick Kyrgios has played only one professional tennis match in the last two years, a first-round loss at the Stuttgart Open in 2023. With a comeback lined up for 2025, the mercurial Aussie has set up one big goal for himself to 'shut people up'.

The last two years have been a minefield of injuries for the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who first had to battle a knee injury and then a wrist problem. Currently in rehab for the latter, Kyrgios is unranked on the ATP Tour as of now, but will benefit from the Protected Ranking entry system when he starts his comeback next year.

The former World No. 13 wants to make an immediate impact, however, stating in a recent interview with Code Sports that he wants to win a Grand Slam title -- one that has eluded him all career. The closest he got was at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, where he fell in the final to Novak Djokovic.

In characteristic fashion, Kyrgios, who has forever been at odds with fans for his strong opinions, believes it is the only way he can stick it to his haters.

“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game. 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," Nick Kyrgios said.

“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," he added.

Interestingly, the 29-year-old is of the opinion that he has now moved on from the 'bad boy' persona that he was synonymous for at the start of his career. To his credit, Kyrgios has made a name for himself in the commentary world during his time on the sidelines, and was routinely commissioned to report on high-profile Grand Slam matches.

"'I don't see myself as a bad boy. I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is. 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," Nick Kyrgios said.

Nick Kyrgios acknowledges tennis is a different sport with different set of expectations for athletes

The Championships - Wimbledon 2023 - Source: Getty

At the same time, Nick Kyrgios conceded that it was different being a tennis player, with the 'traditional' sport setting a different line of expectations for its athletes when compared to most other sports.

"I know at the end of the day I play a very clean-cut traditional sport, that is gentleman-like and I have to be on my best behaviour," Nick Kyrgios said in the aforementioned interview.

As for his first tournament on comeback, the Aussie will start his 2025 season with a preparatory spell at the World Tennis League at the end of this year.