Nick Kyrgios sensationally withdraws from the Australian Open with a knee injury

Nick Kyrgios did everything he could to play in this year’s Australian Open, but his fate was sealed by a practice session with his close mate on Monday.

Nick Kyrgios. Picture: David Caird

Ironically it was the best mate he shared a career highlight with 12 months ago who ultimately ended Nick Kyrgios’ Australian Open dream.

A light training session with his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis on Monday morning was the final straw for Kyrgios.

He’d considered pulling out the night before because of the throbbing pain in his left knee but wanted to give it one last chance, a Hail Mary of sorts to see if it could stand up.

As Kokkinakis, who he won the Australian Open doubles title with last year, moved him around with ease during the practice hit, reality struck the No.19 seed.

If he couldn’t physically keep up in a training session, how was he going to get through seven matches in two weeks to claim the title he genuinely thought he could win this year.

“I got off the court yesterday (Sunday) and was dealing with it, we were going to make a call then,” Kyrgios explained.

Kyrgios shared the drainage image on social

An emotional Nick Kyrgios. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty

“I was, like, you know, I’ve worked so hard, put myself in the position to be … I was ranked outside 100 a year ago, now I’ve had the year I had last year and back inside the 20, being seeded at a Grand Slam, feeling as good as I’m feeling and playing the way I’m feeling. I wanted to give myself a chance.

“I had some hope. But, you know, after today, I hit with Thanasi, someone who’s playing the way he’s playing, and he pushed me around the court a little bit.

“That was more of a realistic type, a hit of the intensity that was coming. It was easier to make the call today.”

Shortly after the press conference, Kyrgios took to social media to share vision of the drainage that had been taken from his knee.

Kyrgios received plenty of support from friends and loved ones after posting on Instagram, writing “man...... this one hurts, to all my fans, I will be back stronger”, with an accompanying picture of him at the start of his service action.

Nick Kyrgios receives support on Instagram.

Doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis replied: “Rest up brother”, while Australian of the Year and wheelchair tennis great Dylan Alcott responded: “Gutted for you brother! Looking forward to seeing you back firing”.

Kyrgios’ girlfriend, Costeen Hatzi, wrote: “The comeback will be better than ever”.

The Aussie star revealed the “brutal” call to withdraw from the Australian Open was required to prolong his career.

The first sign of trouble in the knee started two weeks ago when he was training in Canberra.

First it was just pain before it was decided to have a precautionary MRI. The scan revealed a parameniscal cyst growing in his left meniscus which had resulted from a small tear in his lateral meniscus.

It wasn’t ideal but there was a theory it could be managed. Just before Krygios arrived in Melbourne last week he had a procedure called a fenestration where a syringe was used to drain the cyst.

By this stage the cyst had become noticeable on the side of his knee with pain-killing injections also trialled to see if they could fix the problem.

“To Nick’s credit, he did try everything,” Kyrgios’ long-term physio, Will Maher, said.

“He had any amount of injections that he could try to get into his knee without causing long-term damage.

“We came to Melbourne with the hope there might be some pressure relieved from that procedure and he’d have some relief and be able to get up to a level he was comfortable to compete.”

Nick Kyrgios after withdrawing from the Australian Open due to injury. Picture: David Caird

Respected sports medical expert Dr Peter Larkins said Kyrgios could take anywhere between four weeks and three months to heal “based on surgery findings and knee inflammatory response”.

The much-hyped exhibition match for charity on Friday night with Novak Djokovic was seen as the perfect fitness test. While it was only a Fast 4 format, it would be a decent hit-out against the world’s best infront of a capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Kyrgios enjoyed the experience and was optimistic afterwards. That all changed Saturday morning.

“He didn’t pull up great,” Maher revealed. “He still tried to give himself every chance in the following days to have subsequent training. But it was clear that with each passing session that he was getting sorer and sorer.”

By this stage the constant throbbing in the knee was affecting his sleep and by Sunday he was mentally hanging by a thread.

“It doesn’t feel good, it’s constant,” Kyrgios explained. “When I finish a session or finish a match, it’s just constant throbbing.

“I’ve barely had a good night’s sleep the last four, five nights, It’s just been throbbing. It’s an impact (thing), so every time I land on it or push off my serve, you can see on the side of my knee there’s like a little lump.

A practice session with Thanasi Kokkinakis was the catalyst for Kyrgios pulling out. Picture: Valerio Pennicino/Getty

“That lump will eventually just get bigger and bigger. There’s pressure on my knee, obviously hinders my movement. The only real way to get rid of it is to open up and then just get rid of it.”

He will have a surgery in Canberra next week with Maher confident his man will be back up and playing for Indian Wells in March.

And again Kokkinakis will play a role.

“Injury is a part of the sport. I guess I can draw some inspiration from someone like Thanasi who has had a bunch of injuries and has bounced back,” Kyrgios said.

“Look, I’m not doubting I will be back to my full strength and playing the tennis I was playing prior to this event. Yeah, I’m devastated obviously.

“It’s like my home tournament. I’ve had some great memories here. Obviously last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably. Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal.

“All I can do now is just look forward, do what I need to do and come back.”

Denis Kudla will replace him in the draw as lucky loser, playing Roman Safiullin in the first round.

Rising star Sebastian Korda high-fived Kyrgios in the media area unaware he had just withdrawn from the tournament.

Korda and his team were stunned when told that Kyrgios was out.

“Oh really? No, I didn’t know that. Oh no, oh geez. I hope he’s doing OK,” Korda told News Corp.

“Unbelievable player and he’s always really nice to me.”

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios sensationally withdraws from the Australian Open with a knee injury