Nick Kyrgios returned to the ATP singles tour with a 6-3, 6-4 win over world No. 36 Corentin Moutet at the BOSS Open in Stuttgart, Germany, marking his first singles victory in 15 months. According to The Guardian. The 31-year-old Australian said. “Honestly, there were so many times I was thinking: ‘Why am I playing? What more do I need to do?’ And I look at you guys and this is why I’m playing, so I’ll hang around a little longer.”

Physical Struggles and Comeback

Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, has been sidelined for much of the past two years due to injuries. SPORT notes that he has undergone four knee surgeries and a wrist reconstruction, which he described as “really battling” but also “putting in a lot of work.” Kyrgios admitted to having moments of doubt during his recovery, saying he questioned if he should continue. BILD reports that he played just one match in 2025 and another in January 2026 before this win.

His most recent singles match prior to this was in March 2025, when he lost in the second round of Miami. He played in a showmatch in December 2024, where he defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai.

Future Prospects and Schedule

Kyrgios will face Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro, ranked No. 101, in the next round on Thursday, according to The Guardian. He also has a doubles match with partner Alexander Bublik scheduled for Wednesday. Last Word On Sports predicts Kyrgios will defeat Shimabukuro, though he cautioned that his body “could break down at some point.”

Complex lists Kyrgios as a -135 favorite for the match against Shimabukuro, with over/under games set at 13.5 and over/under sets at 2.5. Despite his uncertainty about his confidence level, Kyrgios said he is “pleased with the way I played today” and “pleased with the way I’m feeling in my body.”

Emotional and Physical Journey

Kyrgios expressed gratitude for the support of his fans during his return. “There were so many times where I was thinking, ‘why am I playing?, what more do I need to do?’ but I look at [my fans in attendance] and know this is why I’m playing,” he said, according to Complex. SPORT adds that his victory marked a “very emotional” moment for the Australian, who has not played a full singles season since 2022.

Despite his physical setbacks, Kyrgios remains focused on the future, including potential wildcard consideration for Wimbledon. “I don’t know if confident is a word I’m feeling quite yet. Obviously, I will see how I feel tomorrow,” he said.

His next matches will determine how far he can go in Stuttgart, with the top seed Ben Shelton and other high-profile players also in the field. Kyrgios’s performance in this tournament could be a key indicator of his readiness to compete at the Grand Slam level again.