Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Aussie Nick Kyrgios Returns to His “Least Favorite” at the 2025 French Open After 8 Years of Absence!!

Kyrgios making his comeback to Roland Garros, after 2017

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Nick Kyrgios is officially back at Roland Garros for the first time since 2017, ending an eight-year absence from the clay courts of Paris. Known for his outspoken disdain for the surface, Kyrgios returns not just to his “least favorite” Slam but also to competitive tennis after a long stretch sidelined by injuries.

The former world No. 13 has been plagued by recurring knee and wrist issues, which kept him off the ATP Tour for most of 2023 and 2024 and even earlier. Now ranked No. 633, the Aussie crowd-puller is working to rebuild his form and his ranking, one match at a time.

He is BACK at Roland Garros 🙌

🚨After an 8 year absence, Nick Kyrgios is set to make his return to the French Open❗️ pic.twitter.com/fr5daAeLOJ
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) May 15, 2025

So far in 2025, Kyrgios has shown flashes of his skills not yet rusted. He owns a 4-1 record this season, including a win over qualifier Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round at Miami. That marked his first tour-level victory since October 2022. However, he was quickly reminded of the grind ahead, falling to Karen Khachanov in the next round with a disappointing second-set bagel.

While Kyrgios won’t be entering the French Open singles draw, he will take the court in men’s doubles alongside Jordan Thompson, currently ranked No. 11 in the world in doubles. Thompson’s regular partner, Max Purcell, is serving an 18-month doping suspension, leading to a shuffle in his pairings and opening the door for this all-Aussie partnership.

Kyrgios said to the Canberra Times about his partnership with Thompson, “We’ve played at the French Open before, so it’ll be good to get out there and play with another fellow Aussie and have a bit of fun.”

🚨 Nick Kyrgios set for French Open return with doubles duty 🚨

The 30-year-old has had a torrid time with foot, knee and wrist injuries following his surprise run to the 2022 Wimbledon final and has played only four singles matches this year, winning once at the Miami Open in… pic.twitter.com/77izzpCdVw
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) May 15, 2025

Kyrgios has never hidden his aversion to clay. Back in 2017, after defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber in the opening round at Roland Garros, he bluntly explained his dislike:

“I don’t really like running. That’s one thing. So when the rally gets pretty long, I tend to just go for a low-percentage shot,” he said, before adding, “When I’m back home I don’t really train that much on clay because it makes my cars dirty.”

He also said something similar recently to Canberra: “The French Open was never really on the cards.”

Nick Kyrgios not a fan of the post-Wimbledon clay swing which takes up so much of both tours this time of year. pic.twitter.com/7stePe2q5d
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 24, 2021

A Brief Look at Kyrgios’ Clay-Court Successes

Kyrgios has seven ATP singles titles to his name, including four prestigious ATP 500 trophies, with the most recent coming at the 2022 Washington Open. Known for his explosive forehand, powerful backhand, and aggressive style, Kyrgios thrives on hard and grass courts, evident from the fact that all his singles titles have come on hard surfaces. Yet, he’s not entirely unfamiliar with clay-court success. Back in 2014, the Aussie lifted back-to-back Challenger titles in Savannah and Sarasota, and in 2015, he made a deep run to the final of the Estoril Open.

In doubles, his resume is just as decorated. Alongside close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios claimed the 2022 Australian Open doubles title in front of a home crowd. Notably, he also lifted the 2018 Lyon Open doubles trophy on clay with Jack Sock, showing that he can win across surfaces when his body allows him to.