Nick Kyrgios Admits to Considering Himself ‘Best Player in the World’ Before Injury Problems: “I Thought No One Can Beat Me”

Nick Kyrgios failed to defeat Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the ongoing Brisbane International.

Nick Kyrgios Admits to Considering Himself ‘Best Player in the World’ Before Injury Problems: “I Thought No One Can Beat Me”

Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Tennis Australia)

Nick Kyrgios is in Brisbane participating in the ATP 250 event. It is his first official tournament since the 2025 Citi Open, where he lost the first round doubles match he played alongside Gael Monfils.

Although he suffered a straight-set defeat at the hands of Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round in singles, Kyrgios is still in the draw in doubles, which he is playing alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. In the first round, the pair went past Matthew Ebden and Rajeev Ram. They will next be locking horns with Frenchmen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul.

At the press conference after his singles match, Kyrgios was asked about the differences between the player he is now and the one he was in 2022. Kyrgios said he was in a delusion that he was invincible, but right now, injuries and surgeries have completely changed his views on himself.

I mean, it’s so hard for me to go out there, even on the practice courts sometimes, and realize that even the thought — there was a point in my life in 2022 or when I was, you know, winning like multiple titles in a year, there was an ultimate, there was actually, like, a delusion I generally thought I was the best player in the world. I think people confuse it when you’re at the top of the sport. I genuinely thought I was unbeatable. I’d go out on court, and I thought no one can genuinely beat me.

Nick Kyrgios said

Last year, the 30-year-old featured in just five singles matches, winning just one, against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the Miami Open. He made his comeback to the tour after 18 months in last year’s Brisbane International.

Prior to the Brisbane International, Kyrgios played the Battle of the Sexes on December 28 against WTA World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. The match drew mixed reactions as critics couldn’t fathom the need for such a match amidst the incessant growth of WTA tennis.

Nick Kyrgios lauds Aleksandar Kovacevic after losing the Brisbane International match

Aleksandar Kovacevic had a breakthrough season last year as he reached his career’s first singles final at the Open Sud de France, though he failed to go past Felix Auger-Aliassime. Later, the 27-year-old made the Los Cabos Open final, and this time, he lost to Denis Shapovalov. It was the World No.58’s career’s first match against Nick Kyrgios, who was full of praise for Kovacevic’s performance.

Aleksandar Kovacevic
Aleksandar Kovacevic (Image via X/Advantage Tennis)

All credit, by the way, I think it’s selfish for me to talk about just myself all the time. Credit to my opponent today. He played lights out. You can tell that he’s new to the tour, locked in, excited, and he’s a hell of a player. You know, he’s going to be one to watch, for sure. He’s obviously had a breakthrough year last year, and he’s going to continue to have big wins. I want to give my credit to my opponent, as well.

Nick Kyrgios said at the press conference

Kovacevic will next be squaring off against seventh seed Cameron Norrie, who knocked out Ugo Humbert. The Brit will be locking horns with Kovacevic for the second time in his career. In their previous meeting, Kovacevic secured a three-set win over Norrie in the fourth round of the 2023 Los Cabos Open.

The first big event of the season is the Australian Open, which starts on January 18. Kovacevic has never progressed beyond the second round. He, in fact, lost in the qualifying rounds last year. Kyrgios is waiting for the wild card. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals in his home Major, reaching the stage in 2015.

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