KYRGIOS 'FEELING PRETTY GOOD' AS GRAND SLAM RETURN BECKONS

Nick Kyrgios has provided the latest update on his planned return to Grand Slam tennis, assuring he is "feeling pretty good" after going through his paces in practice this morning.

The 29-year-old is in the midst of a comeback after 18 months out of the sport due to undergoing surgery on his right wrist.

Unfortunately, a new injury arose just days out from the upcoming Australian Open, with an ultrasound test confirming a grade one abdominal injury.

Click here to watch live tennis on Stan Sport.

Despite another setback, Kyrgios spoke to the media in his pre-tournament press conference to shed light on how his body has held up in the last 24 hours.

"[I] had a really good return, I think a successful return to Brisbane. Had a lot of fun. Obviously carrying the greatest of all time in doubles wasn't on my résumé. Now it is," he said.

"[I] had a really successful singles match against one of the most confident players on the tour. Went home for a couple of days, and obviously just tried to get a bit more under my legs. Hit some more tennis balls. Obviously felt my abdomen a little bit.

"This morning, [I] was out there feeling pretty good. I'm actually hitting again this afternoon to test it out a little bit and see how it feels. As of right now, I still have three days before the tournament starts for me.

"I'm just taking it day by day. Just enjoying all the moments again, being a part of the tournament, going through the hallways, locker room, seeing everyone again. It's been an emotional time for me the last couple weeks. I'm just enjoying being back."

He touched on the mental side of things, explaining how challenging it has been for him to balance the workload and ensuring his body remains in top condition.

"I feel like when you're injured, people think you don't play as much tennis, and you're not doing as much, but you're actually doing a bit more.

"I feel like I haven't been away from the game. Competitively I have been, but I don't feel like that. I feel like I've been playing more tennis, more than ever. I think me trying to emulate the match load in training, the body getting used to it again, anyone that has had an injury that's kept them out of the game for a year plus knows that it's so hard to load manage because you're trying to get ready for the match intensity. I think that's what I was doing.

"After Brisbane, it was really encouraging. Obviously my body was struggling a little bit. I was like, 'Okay, I'm going to try to build on that'. Then obviously [I] had a little bit more of a setback.

"I think it's just part of the game. Niggles. I don't think anyone really feels 100 per cent. Look, as long as it's not something like my wrist again, I think I can manage it."

Before appearing at the Brisbane International earlier this month where he featured in two doubles matches and one singles clash, Kyrgios hadn't stepped on court since June 2023 at the Stuttgart Open.

When asked if he feels refreshed after a lengthy absence from the tour, the former world No.13 referred to nervous energy that he needs to get used to again.

"I guess I don't feel fresh or recharged," Kyrgios admitted. "I feel like I haven't been around this kind of Grand Slam. I forgot the amount of emotions that you feel, the nervousness when the draw comes out, seeing all these guys in the locker room.

"Our sport is truly strange. It's the strangest dynamic.

"You're literally showering, eating, spending time with your competitors that you're going to go out and literally go to war against. It's such a strange dynamic compared to any other sport.

"I feel at home, I guess. The Australian Open has been an amazing event for me and for many others. But I feel back at home being at a Grand Slam. The preparation and the team environment, it's pretty cool."

In his first Grand Slam main draw match since the 2022 US Open quarter-finals against Karen Khachanov, 23-year-old Brit Jacob Fearnley stands in the way of Kyrgios and a second-round berth.

Having pushed Novak Djokovic to four sets in the second-round of Wimbledon last year, Kyrgios understands the challenge ahead.

"He's been knocking on the door with some pretty good results the last six to nine months," he said. "He's obviously very confident. He was actually in my hometown the other week playing a challenger there. I saw him there. He's extremely confident.

"You got to be careful with these guys. I know players like me, we do have a target on our back. These guys go out there trying to play their best tennis. I've experienced that. When guys go out there confident on their debut, they tend to play a bit higher and better than their actual base level. I'm not underestimating anyone in this event.

"Personally, I haven't played many tennis matches. I'm still trying to find my feet as well. At the same time, I'll do my research and be well aware of what he does well. He's obviously been in pretty good form, too. Pretty sure he made things pretty challenging for Novak at Wimbledon. Anyone who can do that on such a big stage has that X factor there. I know he's going to be willing to embrace that challenge against me in Australia. It's going to be good."

Tennis Coaches Australia, coaches supporting coaches, your voice, your network, stronger together" For all enquiries and membership go to tenniscoachesaustralia.au