Martina Navratilova gives honest verdict on whether Nick Kyrgios can play singles after disappointing Australian Open first-round exit
Martina Navratilova expresses doubt on Nick Kyrgios' singles future after he suffered a straight-set defeat at the Australian Open.
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Nick Kyrgios, Martina Navratilova (Images via X)
Nick Kyrgios probably played his last singles match at the Australian Open after his 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) defeat to Jacob Fearnley in the first round. After his match, tennis great Martina Navratilova opined on whether she could see Kyrgios playing singles again at the Australian Open.
The Aussie ace, who was playing his first Grand Slam event since the 2022 US Open, was struggling with abdominal pain throughout the match. He later said that despite the pain, he didn’t want to retire due to the crowd, who had been cheering loudly to show their support.
The 29-year-old, who did put up a fight against Fearnley, hinted at retirement when he declared later that the match probably was his last at Melbourne Park.
Realistically, I probably can’t see myself playing a singles match here again.
Nick Kyrgios said at the press conference
Kyrgios, although he has won the Australian Open in doubles with Thanasi Kokkinakis, has never advanced to the semifinals in singles. Because of the wrist injury and its surgery, he was forced to waste his time on the sidelines for almost 18 months, during which he even contemplated retirement. But as he returned to playing again, Navratilova expressed uncertainty about his future.
Mental toughness is working hard when the results aren’t there. So Nick apparently had been working hard getting to this point. Will he keep that mentality stay tough and work hard, and try to get back up to the top level that he was at? Or is it just too far away from him? We’ll see.
Martina Navratilova said via Tennis Channel
Where does Nick Kyrgios go from here?#AO2025 #TCLive pic.twitter.com/hExGxFSQI9
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 13, 2025
Martina Navratilova feels Alexander Zverev is the best player yet to win a Grand Slam
During a discussion on Tennis Channel, when Martina Navratilova was asked who she thinks is the best player without a Major, she agreed with Lindsay Davenport that it’s Alexander Zverev. Zverev is the World No. 2 player right now and has reached multiple Grand Slam singles finals but never won one.
He turned pro at a time when the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic) were dominating and after Nadal and Federer’s retirement, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner started to win. Zverev came close to his first Major last year when he reached the French Open final but couldn’t overcome Alcaraz.
He [Zverev] came within one game of winning at the US Open and was two sets to one up at Roland Garros. He’s been the best player two out of three, which is funny because usually three out of five, the guy is relaxed a little because they’ve got more leeway, right? But he tightens up more in the three-out-of-five format. Maybe it’s just because it’s a Major, so we’ll see if he can overcome it.
Martina Navratilova said
At the ongoing Australian Open, Sascha defeated Lucas Pouille in the first round and is set to lock horns with Pedro Martinez on Wednesday (January 15). The German has never reached the final at the Melbourne Major.
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