Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has lifted the lid on what is motivating him to return to the tennis court after injuries have forced him to spend approximately 14 months on the sidelines.

The 29-year-old has also spoken out on when he could retire, claiming that while he is still ‘far from done’ he claimed he had ‘one or two years left’ at the top level.

Kyrgios, who has won seven titles on the ATP Tour during his career, last played back in June 2023 at the Stuttgart Open, his only competitive match in nearly two years. 

The Australian endured a torrid 2023 battling a spate of injuries that saw him first withdraw from the United Cup in January to rest an ankle injury ahead of the Australian Open. He would subsequently withdraw from the Grand Slam in Melbourne due to a knee injury that needed surgery.

But more woe would follow, with Kyrgios having to rule himself out of the French Open due to an injury he sustained during an alleged robbery at his home and would later tear a ligament in his wrist which forced him out of Wimbledon.

A spate of injuries have sidelined Kyrgios over the past year, with the Australian star playing only one competitive match in the last two years 

During his time away from the court, Kyrgios has been dipping his toes into media, and impressed with his insights at the Australian Open and Wimbledon

After dipping his toes into the world of media over the past 12 months a reinvigorated Kyrgios seems like he is preparing to make his return to the court in December for the World Tennis League, according to Code Sports.

But it looks as though the comeback is on for the Australian star, who delivered a positive update on his condition before revealing what is motivating his return. 

‘I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game,’ Kyrgios said to Code Sports during an interview.

‘I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.

‘But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That’ll be my deep motivation.’

Kyrgios has previously tasted Grand Slam glory, winning the Australian Open men’s doubles event back in 2022 alongside fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.

That same year he would reach the final at Wimbledon but would suffer defeat by Novak Djokovic, the furthest he has ever advanced in the men’s singles event at a Grand Slam.

The 29-year-old has now claimed that he is using the desire to clinch a men’s singles Grand Slam to fuel his injury comeback and ‘shut up’ his detractors

Kyrgios (right) is yet to win a men’s singles title at a Grand Slam, despite reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic (left)

While he is hungry to end his long wait for a Grand Slam singles title, Kyrgios revealed that he may only have a couple of years left at the top level.

‘I’m far from done, to be honest. I’m in the later stages of my career but I still have one or two years left… I’m feeling extremely well,’ he told Code Sports.

‘I’m hitting for around three hours every day now. My wrist from surgery has completely healed and I’m feeling motivated.’

Kyrgios also added that he owes a lot of his life to tennis, adding that he wants to put retirement to the back of his mind.

‘I don’t want to think about retirement but at the same time I understand that it is coming to an end,’ Krygios said.

‘I don’t think it’s ever going to be easy.’

The 29-year-old also opened up on when he could retire, saying that while he was ‘far from done’ he claimed that he still had ‘one or two more years left’ 

Kyrgios has previously asserted that he will make his return at next year’s Australian Open but had previously stated that he was ‘exhausted’ from the grind of the ATP Tour.

In his time away from the court, Kyrgios impressed as a commentator working with the BBC and Eurosport on Wimbledon and the Australian Open.