Nick Kyrgios is set to return to tennis later this month, after announcing on social media he will feature at the Washington Open following the conclusion of the grass swing.
Kyrgios hasn’t featured at an ATP tournament since the Miami Open in March, where he bowed out in the second round.
He has made just one appearance at a Grand Slam in the last three years, which came earlier this season at the Australian Open.
The 30-year-old missed Wimbledon due to another injury setback, but is now ready to go again for the run-up to the US Open.
Ahead of his comeback, Kyrgios, who hasn’t had a head coach since 2017, was asked if he would appoint one of Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray for the final years of his career.
Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty ImagesNick Kyrgios’ thoughts on Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray as potential coaches
On potentially hiring Djokovic as a coach, Kyrgios said: “Funny you say that because when we filmed my show Good Trouble in Australia, he said he would put me on a six-month training regime, his training regime. I said I would never, ever do that.
“I would not. Because this is what happens. Let me give you an example. Tsitsipas for example. He has had a better career than I have, he has more titles, made more money, made more of an imprint with results.
“But has he had as much fun as Nick Kyrgios? I don’t think so. I don’t think he has enjoyed himself as much throughout his career. He has been very strict. There are two ways to go about it, and you can’t have it both ways.
“I would love to do it. There is a part of me that would love it and I would understand what would happen if I did do that.
Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
“But then I would probably be miserable for those six months. I would be miserable, and I enjoy the way I go about my tennis. I enjoy going about my training sessions and doing all this.
“No player has really done all this type of stuff at the same stuff while they are playing, and I really enjoy doing it.
“So I am sorry, Novak. He beat me in the Wimbledon final, but I have beaten him twice, so it’s not like my style and the way I go about it… It works. Just maybe not on the biggest stage.”
When the idea of Murray taking up the role of his head coach was posed, he said: “Andy would leave after a week! He would be fed up, trust me. He would be like get up, and I would be like f—- off Andy. Get out of here. I couldn’t do it.”
Nick Kyrgios says what his relationship is like with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
He continued: “I feel like me and Murray for a good part of our careers, we were really good friends in the locker room.
“We would always have debates and arguments and conversations across the locker room, where everyone would chime in and listen.
“[We would discuss] tennis things, if there was a scandal going on or something with doping or anything like that. Me and him would have a conversation, and I feel like it was fun.
“There was a period of time when me and Andy were really close, and I really enjoyed that time because I did not get along with many players, but Andy was definitely one of those guys.
“Novak now is awesome. He is a jokester, a prankster. He is like a big kid, to be honest. That’s why I think he likes practicing with me because he remembers he is human, and this is all a bit of fun.
“Where people assume he is super professional, which he is, but what I can feel when I’m around him is that he can let his hair down a bit and have a bit of fun.”
Kyrgios’ next tournament, the Washington Open, will begin on the 21st of July.