Just hours earlier than his scheduled first spherical match in opposition to Roman Safiullin, Nick Kyrgios introduced that he’s withdrawing from the Australian Open on Monday throughout a shock press convention. Kyrgios made the choice on account of a left knee damage that can require arthroscopic surgical procedure.
A routine MRI revealed that Kyrgios had a small tear and a cyst in his lateral meniscus.
“I’m devastated. It’s brutal,” Kyrgios stated on Monday, the Associated Press reported. “This is my residence match, and clearly successful the match in doubles [last year] and taking part in the most effective tennis of my life. All I can do is my finest to return again.”
Kyrgios had simply competed in opposition to nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic on Friday in a charity match at Melbourne Park. According to the Associated Press, Kyrgios’ physiotherapist, Will Maher, said that the tennis star “did not pull up nice” following the exhibition match — an occasion he took half in to check the injured knee.
“We used the charity occasion in opposition to Novak to see if he might compete on the highest degree,” Maher stated. “It’s been [a] fairly interrupted and tough lead-in. In the final week, Nick has skilled discomfort in his knee. There’s a small tear in his lateral meniscus. It was price persevering to see if he can get again on courtroom. To Nick’s credit score, he did every thing to get again on courtroom.”
Kyrgios was coming off an spectacular 2022 season during which he received the Australian Open doubles title with fellow countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis final yr. The 27-year-old star additionally reached the Wimbledon remaining earlier than shedding to Djokovic final July.
“Barely had an excellent night time’s sleep the final 4, 5 nights. It’s simply been throbbing. … Every time I land on serve or push off my serve, you may see on the aspect of my knee there’s like slightly lump. That lump will ultimately simply get greater and greater,” Kyrgios stated. “There’s stress on my knee (that) clearly hinders my motion. Yeah, the one actual option to do away with it’s to open up after which simply do away with it.”
It’s anticipated that Kyrgios will return to Canberra, Australia in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent couple of weeks to have the surgical procedure carried out. Maher confirmed that Kyrgios ought to have the ability to return to the courtroom for the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indians Wells, California in March.
