'Emotional' Nick Kyrgios plans to 'hang around a little longer' after winning return in Stuttgart

The Australian has been out of the game because of a knee injury, last playing in Brisbane. But he made short work of world No. 36 Moutet, defeating the Frenchman 6-3 6-4 in just over an hour. 

Kyrgios has had some of his best results on grass, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2022, but he last played on the surface in 2023, losing his only singles match that entire season in Stuttgart. 

The former world No. 13 has long hinted at retirement after a number of injuries and surgeries have derailed his career over the past few years - but he made it clear that he is not hanging his racquet up just yet. 

”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,” he said in his on-court interview on Tuesday.

”Honestly, there were so many times I was thinking: why am I playing, what more do I need to do? And I look at you guys and this is why I’m playing, so I’ll hang around a little longer.

”I’m pleased with the way I played today, I’m pleased with the way I’m feeling in my body, I’ve been putting in a lot of work so I’m just really happy to be back. 

”You guys are amazing. There’s no other place I’d like to come to and put on a performance like that.”

Kyrgios served well, firing down eight aces as he showed a willingness to come to the net and rush his opponent. 

Moutet was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure as the match wore on, regularly arguing with the umpire, even going so far as to state ”you are doing everything wrong,” at one point. 

For once, the drama was firmly on the other side of the court, Kyrgios getting on with the business of winning as he set up a round of 16 clash with qualifier Sho Shimabukuro.

But the Australian was not looking that far ahead in the wake of his first tour victory since March 2025. 

”It was quite emotional to be honest, I’ve had a lot of surgeries and just to come back here, I’ve felt the love from the get-go. I'm so thrilled to be back, and playing some high level tennis as well,” he added.

”Confident - I don’t know if that is a word I’m feeling quite yet. Obviously, I will see how I feel tomorrow.”

As to why he has picked Stuttgart and grass in general for his return, Kyrgios added: ”[Grass] is a hell of a surface, that’s for sure, this is where tennis started, it’s tradition. You think of tennis and the rich culture it has and this is where it all started. 

”I think about Roger Federer instantly when I think about a surface like this. Obviously, my good friend Novak [Djokovic] has had a lot of success… 

”And Stuttgart has always been a nice place for me on the calendar, I have always played it. Even when I was battling through injury, I have shown up and tried to play. It is a really good event, and I’m really happy I got a win. ”

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