Nick Kyrgios will make his long-awaited return to Grand Slam tennis at the 2025 Australian Open in January after securing a place in the main draw with his protected ranking, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-old has not played at a Grand Slam since September 2022, when he lost in the quarter-finals of the US Open due to a series of injuries to his knee, foot, and wrist.
Kyrgios, who was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, is due to feature in his first competitive tournament at the Brisbane International, set to run from 30 December until 6 January 2025.
The Australian Open begins on 12 January 2025, and the Grand Slam will also see a return for Belinda Bencic under a protected ranking as she will be making her first appearance at a major tournament since 2023.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games singles champion has been out of tournament action due to the birth of her daughter in April and has appeared in Hamburg, Petange, and Angers in recent months, as well as the Billie Jean King Cup.
Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka sit atop the pack as No. 1 seeds for the men’s and women’s draws, respectively, while the tournament will also see Novak Djokovic contest the Australian major under the guidance of career-long rival Andy Murray.
Djokovic has won 10 Australian titles and will look to become the record holder for most Grand Slam crowns with his 24 trophies, currently tied with Margaret Court.
