A “devastated” Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Australian Open a day before his first-round singles match due to a knee injury that requires arthroscopic surgery. Australia’s 27-year-old Kyrgios finished second to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year and won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Australia hasn’t won the singles championship at Melbourne Park since 1976, thus Kyrgios was the host nation’s best opportunity. He and his physical therapist, Will Maher, announced his withdrawal during a Melbourne Park press conference on Monday, Day 1 of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. Kyrgios told Melbourne Park media he was “devastated” to withdraw from his home event. “I’m exhausted. Kyrgios called his withdrawal “brutal” Monday. “A career-defining tournament. It was hard. Life is full of mixed emotions and lousy timing. Sports include injuries.” He faced Roman Safiullin in the first round on Tuesday as a 19th seed in Melbourne. Kyrgios is known for his erratic play and wild outbursts. He openly discusses mental illness. Kyrgios is also charged with assault in his hometown of Canberra. He is one of the athletes in the new Netflix docuseries Break Point, which launched last week. Kyrgios was expected to debut at the Australian Open after withdrawing from tune-up play in January. He tested the knee in a crowded Rod Laver Arena exhibition match against Djokovic on Friday, but it didn’t go well.
On Saturday, Kyrgios claimed the pressure to perform well in the first Grand Slam of the year makes it hard to focus. The contentious Australian said he was humbled to be regarded a serious contender for a maiden Grand Slam. After Kyrgios reported knee pain, an MRI indicated a cyst and a tiny rupture in the lateral meniscus ligament, Maher said. The trainer stated the ailment is “not career-threatening” and that Kyrgios should return to action by the March hard-court event in Indian Wells, California.
