BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 3, 2026

Nick Kyrgios

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Nick, you have had a couple of hits here. Just wanted to get a sense of how you're feeling at the start of the season.

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I mean, Brissie, for me, it's one of the best tournaments you could possibly play on the ATP Tour. Obviously I have some great memories here. 2018, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to feel that again, but just to be here and be a part of it.

And yeah, the Aussie summer is obviously something that's very special to every Aussie tennis player. Just to be able to get out here and have the opportunity and blessing again to step out here is pretty special.

And obviously, you know, if Thanasi is healthy and we can get out there, that's always a sweet spot for him and I. Especially after what he's been through in his career, I'm always super happy whenever he's able to step out on court and enjoy himself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What's the ultimate goal over the next week or so? Where do you want to get to?

NICK KYRGIOS: I'm pretty comfortable, man, to be honest. I wouldn't say I have set any goals. I think after every injury I have had the last couple years, and to see how quickly something can be snatched away from you, you kind of just want to take it -- I have a day-by-day mindset. I don't know if I'm a player that needs to prove himself any more than he has.

I feel like I'm an Aussie around 80 or 90 in the world that hasn't had a breakthrough and really looking to make some inroads in the sport. I have literally had this sport in the palm of my hand for the last couple years. Pretty much every move I make, it's always commented on. I have had some amazing matches. I've played on the biggest stages.

So, yeah, I just want to get through this and be happy with my performance. Ultimately I just want to go out there and put on a show for the crowd and for the fans and the people, to be honest. I have no agenda, and I don't care what my ranking is, don't care what titles I win. I just want to go out there and give the people a good show.

That's ultimately I guess what I'll go down as, as an entertainer and someone who just was a bit of a chaotic mess but an entertainer at the end of the day.

Q. How is the body feeling?

NICK KYRGIOS: It's feeling pretty good. This month has been very eventful for me. I have been around the world and played some good, world-class players. Yeah, I'm feeling I think as good as possible.

Considering how much travel I have had the last month and how much tennis I have played, this is as good as I could feel. Again, I don't think any player here feels 100%, so that's what I need to focus on. No one ever feels brand new. Everyone has a lot of miles on their body.

So I'm just going to focus on -- I have been playing some great tennis of late. I personally feel better than I did a year ago. I think a lot of stress has kind of gone from my life type of thing. I just feel a lot better.

Q. A year ago you were trying to do this, come back and see how it went. Do you think you have been able to do things a bit differently to give yourself a better chance the next few weeks?

NICK KYRGIOS: I mean, look, this tournament is completely stacked with world-class players, always one of the strongest events of the year, so it's very hard to kind of gauge where my level is.

Obviously I know my draw, but if you go out there and play Medvedev first round, it's hard to gauge where your level is at. I feel as if I'm playing great. You know, I was at some of these events where Medvedev was, and we kind of hit together. Seems as if my level is there.

Yeah, as I said, I'm just going to go out there and enjoy myself or try to as much as I can. Hopefully just, yeah, leave -- I guess my goal is to leave Brisbane with a sense of, That was a fun week, you gave everything you had, and whether you came up short or not, you gave a good show to the people.

Q. Are you enjoying tennis? How would you describe how you feel about the sport?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I mean, the last month has been pretty outrageous. You know, I'm selling out -- a kid from Canberra is selling out Madison Square Garden, selling out Dubai.

It's pretty crazy. I guess that's where, I don't know, like I feel like, yeah, sometimes I have to -- when I was traveling to these places and was going in there, I see the crowd is packed, every seat's taken, I'm, like, well, maybe I actually did a pretty decent job.

Yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself the last month and I'm just really looking forward to going out there and competing at the highest level again. It's all a blessing at this point.

Q. You say you don't really have anything to prove, but do you feel like you have to show something, given that AO, some spot's there potentially or not for you? It must look like you're on trial a bit this week?

NICK KYRGIOS: That's an interesting word of choice, but yeah, I feel as if the only reason, like I could have a phone call and be, like, look, I feel 100%, I feel as if I'm going to make a final of a Grand Slam that no other player in the Australia has done in the last 19 years, I could butter it up and take it, but I want to prove to myself first -- like, I don't really to need to play for money or anything.

I'm playing this event because I want to go out there and compete. I feel as if I can still play, and I want to prove to myself after the injuries I have had that I can play at this level and still be successful.

I did a couple interviews before, I don't want to be that player that takes opportunities away from young people that have been really working towards this moment of having a wildcard. As I said, couple of the boys before, Millman gave his wildcard up for me at the French Open when he was injured and he wasn't feeling 100%, and that's where everything kicked off for me, my whole career.

Basically, after that moment, I became a different player mentality-wise, and physicality I learned so much. I knew physically I was so far behind the 8 Ball. I knew mentality I believed I could win, but I had so much work to do.

If I'm feeling great and I get through this week and I feel I can perform at the Australian Open and really enjoy it and give the people -- they are paying good money to be there. If I'm not able to give them the Kyrgios experience, then I would genuinely rather give it to someone that earned the wildcard and really is in tip-top shape to start off something special in their career.

Q. Hypothetically, just say...

NICK KYRGIOS: I don't speak in hypotheticals, so...

Q. Just say you were given a wildcard to qualify at the Australian Open, would you be prepared to go through that and get a main-draw start?

NICK KYRGIOS: I guess potentially, yeah. I mean, as I said, like this, my short-term goal is to get through my doubles with one of my mates that I grew up with, and he's had success here, won doubles here. I have won this tournament. Hence that's why we got a wildcard.

Yeah, I'm just going to get through this week first. And whatever AO brings, AO brings. That's two weeks away. I don't know what could happen between now and then. As an athlete, like yourself, obviously you know so many things can change. Yeah, I'll just take it day by day.

Q. How much do you miss tennis when you're not on tour? Do you sort of keep up with what's happening?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think you actually play more tennis and you put more into it when you're not healthy. When you're healthy, you're not -- you literally are playing one match, get a physio, go back to your hotel. It's pretty simple.

But when you're kind of load-managing and rehabbing and gymming, doing conditioning, and you're on court, you're actually doing more. Like I feel like it's actually more stressful and a bit more like you're a bit more mentally involved in what you have to be doing when you're not quite 100%.

So I feel like I have been on tour the whole time, but I haven't been, in a sense. It's funny, because I'm still one of the most talked-about players, yet I have barely played a match, which is thanks to you guys, obviously.

Yeah, I feel like I have been playing as much tennis as I have ever played. I feel ready to go, and I feel like I'm just excited to get my body in good enough shape to play, yeah.