When did Nick Kyrgios last play at the French Open? Aussie star teases surprise Roland Garros return
Could Nick Kyrgios be about to make a surprise return to the French Open?
That is not something that many people would have predicted in 2025, but it looks like it could be a reality after the Australian, who turned 30 this past weekend, made surprise comments on social media.
Thanking fans for their birthday messages, the former world No 13 claimed that he would “head to Paris” shortly.
He said: “Hey guys, couple days after my birthday now. Just getting into training and getting ready to head to Paris in about three weeks.
“I just want to say I appreciate all the birthday messages – it’s almost been impossible to get back to every single one of you, but I really appreciate the love, the support from all my fans, family and friends that I’m yet to reply to, but I’m doing my absolute best.
“I really felt the love, the big 3-0. Time’s moving, but I definitely felt special.”
A Kyrgios appearance on the Parisian clay would be among the biggest talking points of the season – and end an absence of almost a decade from the second Grand Slam of the year.
When did Kyrgios last play the French Open?
Believe it not, Kyrgios – a former finalist at Wimbledon – has not played at the French Open since 2017, when he was still only 22.
The Australian was the 18th seed that year and defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber in the opening round, before a four-set loss to Kevin Anderson.
That was Kyrgios’ fifth straight appearance at Roland Garros, having made his Grand Slam debut in Paris as an 18-year-old back in 2013.
He reached the third round of the French Open in both 2015 and 2016 but, despite some level of success at the event, his past disdain for the tournament is pretty undeniable.
Speaking while training at the All England Club back in 2019, Kyrgios famously claimed that Roland Garros “sucks”, and called for the end of clay-court tennis.
He said: “This [Wimbledon] is the best tournament in the world… get rid of the clay, man. Who likes the clay?
“The fact that I’m here right now and I have to go to Paris in a couple of days…The French Open sucks compared to this place. Absolutely sucks.”
Kyrgios has not played on clay since appearing at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston back in April 2022, though that was his first tournament on the dirt since the 2019 Italian Open.
The Australian missed all Grand Slam tournaments across 2023 and 2024 due to ongoing injury issues.
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Having only returned to tennis after an 18-month absence back in January, Kyrgios is only ranked 635th in the ATP Rankings currently.
His injury struggles have continued to cause issues in 2025, and he holds a 1-4 record for the season, including a retirement in Indian Wells.
Kyrgios is not ranked high enough to enter the 128-player men’s singles draw by ranking and did not use his protected ranking to gain a place on the entry list, though his options are not yet exhausted.
There is a reciprocal agreement between the French and Australian tennis federations, which means that one men’s singles and one women’s singles player from each country receives a wildcard into each country’s respective Slam.
Kyrgios could receive the Australian reciprocal wildcard or a general wildcard, though he may also use a protected ranking to enter the qualifying draw – should he ultimately commit to playing.
