Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is expected to make his comeback to competitive tennis at his home tournament, the 2027 Kooyong Classic in January at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne.
Joining him will be Holger Rune, Denis Shapovalov, Lorenzo Musetti, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, Learner Tien and Arthur Fils.
The 31-year-old has completed his one-month ban after testing positive for a substance linked to cocaine use. On June 22, Kyrgios provided a urine sample that later tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a substance produced when the body breaks down cocaine.
Kyrgios told the ITIA investigators that he did not take the drug to improve his performance, but he used it “socially” while out with friends before travelling to Mallorca to compete.
Under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the usual suspension for this type of offence is three months. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reduced Kyrgios’s ban because he agreed to take part in an approved treatment programme.
Kyrgios has not won an ATP singles title since August 2022, his career has been affected by serious injuries that have kept him away from the court for long periods.
In January 2023, Kyrgios underwent surgery on his left knee, and he later needed surgery to repair an injury to his wrist. These problems made it difficult for him to play regularly, forcing him to spend much of his time on the sidelines while focusing on his recovery.
Once ranked as high as world No. 13 in singles, Kyrgios is now ranked No. 911 in ATP singles and world No. 1,350 in doubles. His long absence from the game has affected his ranking and match fitness.
