Nick Kyrgios has made a powerful statement in his return to professional tennis, defeating World No. 36 Corentin Moutet in straight sets at the ATP Stuttgart tournament. The Australian, who had not played a singles match since January 6, 2026, due to multiple wrist and knee surgeries, showcased his signature style and dominance on grass.
Dominant Performance in Stuttgart
Playing in the first round of the BOSS Open on Wednesday (AEST), Kyrgios breezed past Moutet 6-3 6-4 in just over an hour. The 31-year-old did not face a single break point, holding serve with ease while threatening his opponent throughout. His powerful groundstrokes and big serves frustrated Moutet, and Kyrgios entertained the crowd with tweeners, drop shots, and his characteristic showmanship.
Emotional Return
After the match, an emotional Kyrgios expressed his joy at being back on court. 'I feel great and motivated,' he said. 'It's quite an emotional moment. I had a lot of surgeries and I'm very thrilled to be back. I had a wrist reconstruction, I had four knee surgeries. But I'm back mostly because of the fans. I'm staying for you guys.'
This victory marks Kyrgios's first grass-court win since the 2022 Wimbledon final, where he finished as runner-up. Since then, wrist and knee problems have plagued him, limiting him to just seven singles matches since October 2022, with only one win before Wednesday.
Wimbledon Wildcard Speculation
Kyrgios's return to form has sparked discussions about a potential Wimbledon wildcard. The Grand Slam begins at the end of June, and organisers are likely monitoring his progress closely. His serve-and-first-strike game style is particularly effective on grass, and the shorter points reduce strain on his body.
Social media erupted with praise for the Australian. Tennis commentator Myles David wrote, 'Nick Kyrgios hasn't won an ATP tour singles match since Miami '25 but he just took out the 36th best player in the world in an hour and 7 minutes. Always giving us something to watch.'
Prominent tennis account Pavvy G added, 'I genuinely didn't think that Nick Kyrgios would look this good after his long period off the courts!' Jose Morgado noted, 'That was very, very impressive from Kyrgios. Much better than probably most expected.'
Fan Reactions
Reddit users were equally enthused. One commented, 'I have seen enough, Kyrgios is winning Wimbledon, to be the 4th man born in the 90s to become a slam winner.' Another said, 'Dude served like an absolute menace, impressive.' A third added, 'Impressive to beat a guy in the top 50 or so after years of not playing. Curious to see how far Nick can go in a tournament.'
Next Match
Kyrgios will face Sho Shimabukuro in the second round on Thursday (AEST). If he continues to perform at this level, a Wimbledon wildcard seems increasingly likely, much to the delight of fans worldwide.
