Nick Kyrgios says Miami Open "should be the Fifth Slam, let's put that to bed right now"

Nick Kyrgios has never shied away from the spotlight. He’s entertained fans his entire career, on and off the court, and has remained a lightning rod for attention even as he makes a pro-tour comeback. After notching his first ATP win since October 2022 on Wednesday, Kyrgios joined Tennis Channel 2's “Second Serve” with Tracy Austin, Nick Monroe and Geoff Chizever for a conversation about the game, his interests and, as you might have guessed, many other thoughts.

One of which will be of particular interest to those in Miami.

“This should be the ‘Fifth Slam,’” Kyrgios said of the Miami Open. “Let’s just put that to be right now.”

This is by far the best Masters event in the world, not even close.

Indian Wells' BNP Paribas Open and other notable tour stops have also claimed the unofficial designation—neither tournament has the same structure as a Grand Slam, of course—but Kyrgios gave the second stop on the Sunshine Double the most glowing review imaginable.

Perhaps the good vibes and boffo recommendation are a reflection of Kyrgios finally feeling a level of comfort on the court. It’s clear that the energy in Miami is giving him the extra lift he has sorely needed.

Speaking of Slams, Kyrgios opined on them when asked about ways to improve and enhance the sport. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist gathered his thoughts before settling on two specific changes, in two vastly different areas.

“Grand Slams up to quarterfinals should be best-of-three [sets], and then quarterfinals onward should be best-of-five. I think it would make the first week a lot more interesting,” Kyrgios said, before moving on to his second point.

“If you’re on stadium [court], you should have a 15-minute warmup so you can interact with some of the celebrities. I think that would be more content for the sport,” he reasoned. “It’s just more interactive. I think tennis needs to get into that kind of more modern day, how the sports are now. It needs more content, it needs more fun.”

For a lot of players, it takes a bit of prodding for them to speak freely. For Nick Kyrgios, all you have to do is place him in front of a camera and turn the mic on.