Nick Kyrgios has been handed a wildcard entry into the Brisbane International. (Getty Images: TPN/Frey)
In short:
Nick Kyrgios has been handed a wildcard entry into the Brisbane International ahead of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios won the tournament in 2018 but has played just six ATP Tour matches in more than three years.
What's next?
Kyrgios will play Aryna Sabalenka on December 28 before the The Brisbane International begins on January 4.
Nick Kyrgios has been given a wildcard entry into the Brisbane International in a pointer to his determination to play in the Australian Open.
Kyrgios will feature in the January 4-11 tournament in Queensland ahead of being granted another possible wildcard into the grand slam in Melbourne.
Kyrgios, beset by injuries and four rounds of knee and wrist surgeries, has played just six ATP Tour matches in more than three years.
The 2018 Brisbane International champion was today confirmed as an entrant to the tournament's next edition.
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"Nick has long been a favourite with Brisbane crowds and will be a major drawcard for fans," Brisbane International tournament director Cameron Pearson said in a statement.
"We're thrilled to welcome him back to Brisbane and can't wait to watch him perform in front of a passionate home crowd."
The 30-year-old will follow his Brisbane appearance by contesting the round-robin Kooyong Classic in Melbourne from January 13-15.
Australian Open organisers are expected to lock in all wildcards just before qualifying starts on January 12.
The former Wimbledon finalist said last month he had been training as well as his career-best year in 2022, when he lost the grass-court final in London to Novak Djokovic in four sets and also reached the US Open quarter-finals.
"I don't know whether to call it a miracle or anything, but my knee feels like it's gotten younger by a couple of years," Kyrgios said.
"I really didn't have hope to be able to play AO or just ever get back to that point of where I felt comfortable and competing and really letting my body go.
"But something in the last month, I don't know what it is. I was with my masseuse and physio last night and something really has changed with my knee.
"Like it's not swelling, it's not feeling bad after a session."