As his comeback plans take shape, Aussie star Nick Kyrgios is hoping for a return to John Cain Arena at Australian Open 2025.
The court is the site of some of his greatest career matches and memories, something he yearns to recreate after an extended period on the sidelines.
It’s also where, for the first time at Australian Open 2025, fans can buy tickets to dedicated night sessions at the 10,000-seat arena, scheduled for 12-17 January.
Kyrgios has played just one match in the past two years, and none for 18 months, after a succession of injuries kept him on the sidelines.
But the worst of those – a wrist injury, which required reconstructive surgery – has healed well and the 29-year-old is looking forward to a return during the Summer of Tennis.
He begins his comeback at the Brisbane International and later in January will head to Melbourne Park for the year’s first Grand Slam event – his first appearance at a major since reaching the 2022 US Open quarterfinals.
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Speaking on this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast, Kyrgios was asked to reflect on his favourite Australian Open moments.
He said one was his run to the AO 2022 men’s doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The other came at John Cain Arena.
"I think the [Karen] Khachanov match in the third round of the Australian Open [in 2020], when it was like a four-hour and 50-minute grind, and it was probably one of the most insane energies I've ever been a part of,” Kyrgios replied.
“The crowd was absolutely going insane, and it was special.”
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That win over Khachanov at JCA was his 11th match at the “People’s Court”, and his ninth win.
After winning his first four outings at the arena and six of his first seven, he’s gone on to build an career record at JCA of 12-3 – a success rate of 80 per cent.
NICK KYRGIOS' AO MATCHES AT JOHN CAIN ARENA
"The court just feels amazing, I think I just love the dimensions of it,” said Kyrgios, when asked why his John Cain Arena record is so strong.
“Even though every single court's got the same dimensions, it's just the backdrop and everything about it. I like how the crowd's really close.
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"I really want to put a petition in, when I'm done, to call it the Kyrgios Court, instead of John Cain Arena (laughter).
“I genuinely think if we called it the Kyrgios Court it'd be a lot cooler, and we'd create a bit more buzz: 'Oh you played on the Kyrgios Court?' Because then it's, like, known for being a bit of a chaotic, zoo-like atmosphere, I think, and then people will think about some of the best times I had on it.
"Just how chaotic the crowd was going; sometimes I was like, 'this place is ridiculously loud.'
“I don't know what it is about that court, but hopefully I'll be able to play on it again this year.”
Kyrgios has played 26 matches overall at the Australian Open, for a win-loss record of 17-9.
His best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 2015, before fourth-round finishes in 2018 and 2022.
The deeper the former world No.13 progresses at the Australian Open, the more likely he is to play at Rod Laver Arena, the tournament’s principal court.
But he hopes for a return to the eastern end of the Melbourne Park precinct, and another chance to electrify the crowds at John Cain Arena in what will be his 10th Australian Open campaign.
"I do like the fact that it's very accessible for the fans,” Kyrgios said. “The fans are right there, they're having like ongoing conversations with me.
“I think they realise that I really feed off it.”
Listen to the full episode of The Sit-Down, a weekly podcast released each Monday featuring an in-depth interview with a notable tennis identity. Subscribe via The AO Show in your favourite podcast player.