Three years ago, Nick Kyrgios made an impressive journey to the Wimbledon final but fell short of securing the title.
After struggling to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for eight years since his debut in 2014, Kyrgios returned in 2022, winning matches against Paul Jubb, Filip Krajinovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Brandon Nakashima.
Following that, he secured a straight-sets victory over Cristian Garin, marking his first-ever Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
When Rafael Nadal withdrew, Kyrgios received a bye to the final, where he faced defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Kyrgios took the first set 6-4 and was close to clinching his first major title but ultimately lost as Djokovic rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
Kyrgios Reflects on Lack of Sleep Before the Wimbledon Final
In a recent episode of “Wimbledon Unfiltered with Nick Kyrgios,” he reflected on his preparations for the 2022 final against Djokovic.
“I couldn’t sleep at all the night before; it was really tough,” Kyrgios admitted. “Every decision I made in my tennis practice was for that match. I think that contributed to my loss.”
“Novak has played 30+ Grand Slam finals; it was my first, and I couldn’t handle the anxiety,” he added.
Operating on no sleep, Kyrgios acknowledged he relied on pure adrenaline during the Wimbledon final.
“I was exhausted but ran on adrenaline when I hit the court,” he explained. “Novak’s composure in those big moments is due to his experience, which I lacked.”
Kyrgios expressed hope for better preparation next time, saying, “If I can get back there, I’d love to at least get an hour of sleep.”
Since that final, he hasn’t made it to another Grand Slam final but showed promise at the US Open shortly after his Wimbledon success.
Missed Chances at the 2022 US Open
After his Wimbledon appearance, Kyrgios won his seventh ATP Tour title at the Washington Open.
He carried that momentum into the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Grand Slam.
- 2022 US Open 1R – Kyrgios beat Thanasi Kokkinakis, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6
- 2022 US Open 2R – Kyrgios beat Benjamin Bonzi, 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
- 2022 US Open 3R – Kyrgios beat JJ Wolf, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
- 2022 US Open 4R – Kyrgios beat Daniil Medvedev, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
As the quarterfinals approached, it was certain that tennis would see a new Grand Slam champion, with the exits of Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic, and Stan Wawrinka.
Kyrgios quickly became a favorite, as he was one of only three quarterfinalists with previous major final experience.
| Name | Seeding | Previous Best Grand Slam Result |
| Nick Kyrgios | 23rd | Finalist – 2022 Wimbledon |
| Karen Khachanov | 27th | Quarterfinalist – 2019 French Open, 2021 Wimbledon |
| Matteo Berrettini | 13th | Finalist – 2021 Wimbledon |
| Casper Ruud | 5th | Finalist – 2022 French Open |
| Jannik Sinner | 11th | Quarterfinalist – 2020 French Open, 2022 Australian Open, 2022 Wimbledon |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 3rd | Quarterfinalist – 2021 US Open, 2022 French Open |
| Andrey Rublev | 9th | Quarterfinalist – 2017 US Open, 2020 French Open, 2020 US Open, 2021 Australian Open, 2022 French Open |
| Frances Tiafoe | 22nd | Quarterfinalist – 2019 Australian Open |
Unfortunately for Kyrgios, he couldn’t seize the chance to claim a Grand Slam title, losing to Russia’s Karen Khachanov in a five-set quarterfinal.
Since then, Kyrgios has faced injuries and only competed in one Grand Slam, where he lost in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open.
The prospect of the 30-year-old winning a major title appears slim, as he may look back on both Wimbledon and the 2022 US Open as key missed opportunities.
It is possible that Kyrgios could make a comeback at the US Open to rectify his 2022 missteps, though his participation will depend on his fitness level. The 2025 US Open is set to commence on Sunday, August 24.
