Tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, has confirmed he will return to play in the 2023 French Open after a six year absence.
Kyrgios has been a long time critic of the French Open, also known as Roland Garros, and once described it as the “worst” grand slam event.
The athlete admitted the decision had nothing to do tennis and that he would prefer to stay home, but would be playing at the French Open because his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi wants to visit Paris, France.
“Yes, I’m playing the French Open, my girlfriend wants to see Paris, so why not?” Kyrgios told The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH). “It will be good for me to earn some more money, although I would have preferred to stay at home.”
Kyrgios has previously said he doesn’t enjoy playing on clay-court tournaments, preferring to focus his strength on the grass court seasons.
The tennis player has never progressed beyond the third round at the French Open but is still confident he can get great results on clay.
“I’ve played well on clay, I’ve beaten [Roger] Federer, [Stan] Wawrinka, I’ve played a final on clay [at Estoril in 2015],” Kyrgios told The SMH.
“But usually at that time of year, I like spending time at home. Because if I don’t, then I’m traveling for eight months a year, it’s too much.”
Kyrgios and his girlfriend Hatzi have been together for a year.
“I’ll easily take time with my family and my girlfriend and enjoy experiences around the world and earn that type of money rather than play a week away in something where I wouldn’t be able to be with my girlfriend and I’m not getting paid that well,” he concluded.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.
READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios: Australian public’s lack of ‘respect’ behind Davis Cup snub.
