Nick Kyrgios received a wildcard for next month Brisbane Internationalmarking the first time he will appear on the ATP Tour in 10 months.
Kyrgios, who features in the controversial Battle of the sexes exhibition against the women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka In Dubai on December 28, has not played an official ATP match since the Miami Open in March, a loss to Karen Khachanov.
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The Australian has struggled with injuries and fitness issues over the past three years, with his ranking falling to 673 in the world, but the 30-year-old is expected to compete in the ATP 250 event in Brisbane and the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, a week before the Australian Open.
However, Kyrgios is counting on a wildcard to participate in the first Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park, as he no longer has a protected ranking.
Kyrgios played only five matches in 2025 due to injury and withdrew from Wimbledon and the US Open. He lost to British player Jacob Fearnley at the Australian Open last year.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios insists Sabalenka ‘won’t beat him’ as the pair recently considered their Battle of the sexes competition Sunday in the United Arab Emirates.
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“Getting to know her, she’s definitely a character,” Kyrgios said a few months ago. “I’m super excited for it. I think she’s the type of player who honestly thinks she’s going to win.
“She (Sabalenka) is not going to beat me. Do you really think I have to try 100 percent? I will try. Because I represent the men’s team. I would say 6-2 maybe.
Nick Kyrgios to play at Brisbane International next month (AP)
“I’m not going to go in there and say, ‘Oh, she’s so good, I can’t play that.’ That would make me look so bad. I imagine the internet would go crazy – go bananas.
“I mean, our services, women can’t really provide them,” Kyrgios also said. “And then we can just chip and drop a shot. I think we’ll be fine. I’ll go for it, and I don’t want her to win. That’s for sure.”
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In the original 1973 “Battle of the Sexes,” Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, with King’s victory in Houston considered one of the most famous matches of all time.
This year’s Battle of the Sexes will be broadcast live on BBC One.
