In the match, Kyrgios delivered 13 aces and noted the surreal nature of his win, reflecting on how far he has come from not being able to play at all to beating a solid opponent.

Next, Kyrgios is set to face No. 22 seed Karen Khachanov, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, in the second round of the tournament.

Kyrgios expressed admiration for Khachanov's work ethic, contrasting it with his own approach to the sport.

His ATP ranking plummeted from a career high of No. 13 to No. 892 due to his extended absence from competition, but he was able to enter the Miami Open using a protected ranking.

This victory marks Kyrgios's first win since October 6, 2022, ending a streak of nine consecutive losses.

Kyrgios entered the Miami Open using a protected ranking; he had previously reached the semifinals in this tournament in 2016 and 2017.

Kyrgios had previously retired from his match against Botic van de Zandschulp at Indian Wells due to wrist pain, trailing 7-6, 3-0 before withdrawing.

Nick Kyrgios achieved his first singles victory in over two years by defeating American Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Miami Open on March 19, 2025.

Prior to this match, Kyrgios had not won an ATP singles match since his triumph in Tokyo in October 2022, and he entered the Miami Open ranked No. 892 due to injuries that sidelined him for most of 2023 and all of 2024.

Kyrgios, who has been recovering from surgeries on his wrist and knee, expressed emotional relief after the match, stating it was a tough two years for him.

He is also a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA) against the ATP and WTA, demanding reforms for player welfare and challenging monopolistic practices in professional tennis.

After his withdrawal from Indian Wells, Kyrgios expressed his frustration, questioning the purpose of continuing if he couldn't finish matches.