Nick Kyrgios keeps tennis fans guessing over whether he will play in the French Open after describing it as ‘the worst Grand Slam’ – as Tennis Australia names wildcard entries
- Infamously once said ‘the French open sucks’
- Said he would go because girlfriend wants to see Paris
- Action begins in France on Monday, Australian time
The Nick Kyrgios mind games continue but tournament officials are confident the polarising Aussie firebrand will line up at the French Open despite once calling for it to be removed from the tennis schedule completely.
Australia will be sending a strong contingent of seven male players under the reciprocal wild card deal it has struck with Roland Garros organisers, including a push to boost Thanasi Kokkinakis back into the top 100.
He will join a strong Aussie contingent including wunderkind Alexei Popyrin, who will play world No.7 Holger Rune in the round of 16 at the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday night, Australian time.
Kim Birrell, who has been plagued by injuries, will also make her international Grand Slam debut after receiving Tennis Australia’s reciprocal wildcard.
Kyrgios has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Australian Open for surgery on a knee injury.
Kyrgios and Hatzi cut fashionable figures but the tennis star has given no indication yet whether he will be in Paris for the French Open on Monday
The last time Kyrgios played on clay he threw a chair onto the court in outrage against Casper Ruud
There is no love lost between Kyrgios and clay surfaces, with the Aussie once declaring that the French Open should be removed from the tennis calendar completely
He would not require a wildcard because of his rank of 26th in the world and would be automatically seeded so he would not face a higher ranked rival until the round of 32.
However Kyrgios’ management has not provided any information regarding the world No.26’s intentions, despite the French Open starting on Monday.
‘I think he will play Roland Garros,’ a senior tennis official told AAP.
The Australian tennis star has not participated in a professional event since October last year.
Kyrgios last played at Roland-Garros six years ago but expressed his intention to end his tournament hiatus in December, stating that his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi wanted to visit Paris.
His last match during a European clay-court swing ended infamously when he threw a chair on the court in a classic Kyrgios tantrum while playing Casper Ruud at the 2019 Rome Masters.
Kyrgios fired back at the report from Daily Mail Australia on his antics at Australian Fashion Week
Kokkinakis famously won the doubles title at the Australian Open with Kyrgios in 2022 and is now trying to climb the rankings in the singles
Australia’s Kimberly Birrell will make her international debut a the French Open under the reciprocal wildcard arrangement with Tennis Australia
Kyrgios has previously criticised Roland Garros as the worst grand slam, suggesting that it should be removed from the calendar.
While he has been tight-lipped about the French Open, Kyrgios has been busy on social media following the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs.
The tennis bad boy and his girlfriend also made headlines with their dramatic entrance at Australian Fashion Week on Monday night.
Kyrgios stirred up controversy by requesting security guards escort him and Hatzi into the Michael Lo Sordo show, after complaining about being photographed upon arrival.
He has since fired back on Instagram saying that the security guard is disabled and a a fan of the tennis star.