Nick Kyrgios conquers doubts and injuries to secure first win in over two years at Miami Open

Nick Kyrgios is back in the winner’s circle after a long road to recovery, securing his first tour victory in over two years at the Miami Open.

Kyrgios battled back from a set down to defeat American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the $14.5 million Masters 1000 event on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), marking his first tour-level victory since the Japan Open in October 2022.

The win now sets up a second-round clash with Russian Karen Khachanov, who was the last player Kyrgios faced in a Grand Slam singles match at the US Open just a few months prior to that Tokyo event.

“It’s been a long journey just to even get to the start line of matches and then being scared to even finish them, so to come off and get a win and then feel I like I belong again, it’s pretty special,” Kyrgios said, reflecting on the wrist and knee injuries that sidelined him.

“Honestly, I thought I would never play tennis again, to be brutally honest with you. It was going that way.

“I’ve had conversations with my camp, with my team – guys that are leaving their families to be here with me to try to get me on court and I was like ‘I don’t know how long I can keep doing this for’.

“But obviously this puts a bit more petrol in the tank, but I need to be realistic. I’ll see how my wrist pulls up tomorrow because it is a grind out here.”

Kyrgios admitted his “tough” injury ordeal had left him questioning whether was ready to compete again on tour.

“Honestly, I saw the draw and didn’t feel confident about versing anyone,” Kyrgios said.

“The way my wrist has pulled up the last six months hasn’t been great, but having one (previous) win against ‘Macka’, having something to draw from experience helped.

“But he’s such a good player, so tricky, and he definitely caught me off guard. I walked onto the court and I wasn’t used to that ball speed again.”

His recent on-court victory comes after he vowed to “shut people up” with his tennis comeback, particularly those who have doubted him over the years.

“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game,” he previously told Code Sports.

“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.”

-with AAP.