STUTTGART, Germany : Former world number 13 Nick Kyrgios said he was “thrilled to be back” after securing his first tour-level singles victory in 15 months at the Stuttgart Open on Tuesday.
The injury-plagued Australian produced a strong display on grass to defeat Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-3 6-4 in the opening round of the Wimbledon warm-up event.
The win marked Kyrgios’s first victory on the ATP Tour since March 2025 after a lengthy battle with injuries that have severely disrupted his career.
“I had a wrist reconstruction, I’ve had four knee surgeries, so I’m really battling, but at the same time I’ve put in a lot of work, I’m really feeling good about myself,” Kyrgios said after the match.
The 31-year-old admitted he had questioned whether it was worth continuing his career during his long rehabilitation process.
“There were so many times I was thinking: ‘Why am I playing? What more do I need to do?’ But seeing the support from the fans is why I’m playing, so I’ll hang around a little longer,” he said.
Kyrgios reached the final of Wimbledon Championships 2022 in 2022 but has struggled to regain momentum since then due to a succession of injuries.
He played only one singles match in 2023, missed the entire 2024 season, competed in five tour-level matches in 2025 and had played just once this year before Tuesday’s contest at Tennis Club Weissenhof.
Currently unranked, Kyrgios will face Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro in the second round on Thursday. A strong run in Stuttgart could strengthen his case for a Wimbledon wild card when selections are announced next week.
Despite the encouraging performance, Kyrgios remained cautious about his prospects.
“I’m so thrilled to be back, and playing some high-level tennis as well,” he said.
“Confident? I don’t know if that is a word I’m feeling quite yet. Obviously, I will see how I feel tomorrow.”
