Nick Kyrgios in tears as tennis career in jeopardy after latest injury blow

Nick Kyrgios was inconsolable on Friday after another brutal setback as his tennis career stutters towards a sad conclusion.

Nick Kyrgios’ tennis career has been plunged into doubt after the Aussie retired from his first-round match at the Indian Wells Masters.

Kyrgios was down 7-6(7) 3-0 to Botic van de Zandschulp when the pain of his troublesome wrist became too much to bear for the 29-year-old.

The Aussie called in a physio and looked dejected and cried into his hands as his wrist was attended to, before officially retiring from the match.

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Playing for the first time since an opening-round exit at the Australian Open in January, which came after a first-round loss in Brisbane where he started his comeback from injury, Kyrgios struggled throughout with his wrist.

He re-aggravated the injury during practice for the tournament and came into the match with it heavily strapped up.

In a valiant display, Kyrgios showed glimpses of his brilliant best as he fought back from 4-1 down in the first set to earn a set point, but lost it, before his opponent won the next two points, and the set, 9-7 in the tie-breaker.

Down 3-0 in the second set, having flexed his wrist consistently throughout, Kyrgios called for a medical time-out, before realising he just couldn’t continue on.

Nick Kyrgios retired from his first match since the Aussie Open. Image: Getty/X

The blow came after Kyrgios conceded pre-match the “reality” of trying to climb back to the top of the tennis mountain with a surgically repaired wrist had begun to set in.

“There was a time I was a contender at all these events and after the surgeries I’ve had, especially on my right wrist, it’s not fair to put those expectations on me,” he said before his opening match.

“I still feel like I want to win matches and make some noise, but now I really understand the amount of work that just goes into getting to the start line.

“Especially when you look at some of the payers who have had wrist surgery . it takes time to get back to the he level and you may not ever get there.

“I understand the challenge that as in front of me, it’s almost a bit tougher now because I see the reality of how my wrist is.”

Nick Kyrgios’ tennis future is clouded in uncertainty. (Getty Images via AFP)

Kyrgios said hurting himself in practice didn’t help his cause and hinted he may need to retire in the near future and focus on his career after tennis.

“I practised for an hour and this second last point felt my wrist a little bit,” he said.

“It seems to be that point where I can’t really catch a break with my body but these are just things you have to navigate . this is the challenge in front of me.”

“I’ve definitely still got a bit of tennis to play,” he said.

“But I think my media career will be taking off. “

– with NewsWire

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios in tears as tennis career in jeopardy after latest injury blow