Nick Kyrgios has kickstarted his latest comeback with a straight-sets win over world No 36 Corentin Moutet in the first round of the ATP event in Stuttgart.<\/p>\n
The Australian, once ranked No 13 in the world, had not played a singles match since appearing at the Brisbane International in January, when he lost in 66 minutes to world No 58 Aleksandar Kovacevic.<\/p>\n
Having missed the entire 2024 season, he has won just one singles match since October 2022.<\/p>\n
At the Wimbledon warm-up event in Germany on Tuesday, 31-year-old Kyrgios wound back the clock with powerful serves and a smattering of showmanship, with drop shots and tweeners helping to take down Frenchman Moutet 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted less than an hour.<\/p>\n
Kygrios said post-match that he was delighted to be back on court after having doubted his continued participation in top-level tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a wrist reconstruction, I\u2019ve had four knee surgeries, so I\u2019m really battling, but at the same time I\u2019ve put in a lot of work, I\u2019m really feeling good about myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, there were so many times I was thinking: \u2018Why am I playing? What more do I need to do?\u2019 And I look at you guys and this is why I\u2019m playing, so I\u2019ll hang around a little longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased with the way I played today, I\u2019m pleased with the way I\u2019m feeling in my body, I\u2019ve been putting in a lot of work so I\u2019m just really happy to be back.\u201d<\/p>\n