Despite a rocky start to his season due to a persistent injury, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios remains undeterred and is set to make an appearance at a charity event ahead of the Indian Wells tournament. His recent practice sessions have not gone unnoticed, especially by his girlfriend and influencer, Costeen Hatzi, whose one-word reaction to his efforts was simply “Slay.”
Kyrgios’ injury-plagued start to the year has thrown a wrench in his grand plans for a triumphant return to the ATP Tour. He got off to a promising start, joining forces with tennis heavyweight Novak Djokovic for a thrilling doubles match in Brisbane. However, their partnership was short-lived as they suffered an early defeat against the top-seeded duo of Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
Further disappointment followed as Kyrgios was knocked out in the opening round of the Australian Open Singles, losing to the UK’s Jacob Fearnley. The pain of his physical condition was apparent in his post-match reflection. “I knew tonight was going to be tough. With my physical state going into the match, I knew that I was going to be really hindered with my serve,” said the 29-year-old, referring to his minor abdominal strain.
The Aussie’s doubles partnership with Thanasi Kokkinakis met a similar fate when they had to withdraw mid-match due to trailing behind James Duckworth and Aleksander Vukic. Kyrgios’ hopes of replicating his impressive run at Melbourne in 2022 were dashed, but he seems to have taken it in his stride and is now preparing for another comeback, this time off the tour.
Set to participate in a charity event on March 3-4, Kyrgios will join a star-studded lineup that includes tennis elites like Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Ons Jabeur, Barbora Krejcíkova, Alexander Zverev, and Holger Rune. This event, organized against the backdrop of the ATP 1000 Masters event in California, has already generated buzz.
Kyrgios’ Instagram post, featuring him basking in the LA sun after a practice session, caused quite a stir, especially with his girlfriend, Costeen Hatzi. The caption read: “The VILLAIN is usually the character they remember anyway,” to which Hatzi responded with a succinct, “Slay.”
Their relationship, which began in December 2021, has been a source of delight for fans. The couple met when Kyrgios was in search of a mirror and Hatzi happened to be selling one on Instagram. Their adorable social media interactions are often overshadowed by Kyrgios’ outspoken opinions and his recent comments on Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy are no exception.
Kyrgios has been vocal about his disapproval of Sinner’s recent doping scandal. The Italian tennis prodigy accepted a three-month suspension following a positive test for the banned anabolic clostebol. Sinner’s case, which was set to be reviewed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in April, was settled out of court, a move that Kyrgios criticized for its apparent lack of transparency.
Following Sinner’s removal from the Laureus Sportsman of the Year nomination, Kyrgios was quick to respond, stating, “Well, I mean, sportsmanship does mean playing by the rules.”
While controversy continues to swirl, Kyrgios remains focused on his recovery and return to tennis. The question on everyone’s lips is: when will we see the Aussie back on the tour? Only time will tell.
