Nick Kyrgios in doubt for Australian Open with abdominal strain injury
Nick Kyrgios is in doubt for the Australian Open, with the Aussie star revealing a fresh injury blow - but tournament director Craig Tiley remains unconcerned about the star’s availability.
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Nick Kyrgios is in doubt for the Australian Open after being told he has an abdominal strain that requires immediate rest.
The controversial Australian tennis star has not played any grand slam event since the 2022 US Open but was desperately hoping to make his comeback at Melbourne Park, starting Sunday.
The former Wimbledon finalist released a post on social media saying he’s still hopeful of taking part in the first grand slam of the year but has withdrawn from a scheduled practice match against Novak Djokovic as a precaution.
“Unfortunately won’t be able to play my good friend @djokernole this Thursday on the 9th as I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade 1 strain. Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK by the AusOpen,” Kyrgios wrote.
The loss of Kyrgios would be another massive blow to the Australian Open, who has long suffered from top players pulling out because of injuries.
But tournament director Craig Tiley insisted there was no concern from Tennis Australia that Kyrgios would fail to take his place in the main draw.
“I think it’s just precautionary – that’s the word we’ve got from him, and I’ll have a chat to him when he gets in (Wednesday afternoon),” Tiley said.
“Quite a few players do that, it’s normal that they’ll do that leading into the event.
“Nick’s not the only one who’s not doing some of the pre-planned matches over the next few days as they take precautionary measures. No concerns at this point heading into the Australian Open.”
The opening week “Night with Novak” event was set to proceed as planned without the Australian firebrand, with Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev confirmed for a mixed doubles exhibition match earlier on Thursday at 5pm.
“With these … exhibition events, if someone’s not 100 per cent ready to play, then they’re not going to play,” Tiley said.
“For (Kyrgios), he’s got to do what’s best so he can get ready for the Australian Open.”
After 18 months on the sidelines, Kyrgios made his long-awaited comeback to professional tennis in Australia in the last week of 2024 at the Brisbane International.
Love him or loathe him, the hot-headed Aussie is still the most watchable player in the sport but lost his first round singles match and his second round doubles match, where he teamed up with Djokovic.
Injury prone, he warned his fans he was struggling to get fully fit and would need a “miracle” to win the Australian Open.
Immensely talented but with a short-fuse that often lights up without warning, Kyrgios has vowed to give everything he has left to achieve his unfulfilled life’s ambition of winning a grand slam singles title.
At 29, he’s still young enough to do it but has been given a rude reminder of how injuries can strike at any time, having undergone knee and wrist operations that have kept him off the court since his magical run to the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Frustratingly, he’s only played two official singles matches in the past few years – a short-lived return to grass at Stuttgart in June 2023 then Brisbane – raising doubts whether he would ever make it back, but he insists he is fit again and hungrier than ever to get back into the swing.
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Originally published as Nick Kyrgios in doubt for Australian Open with abdominal strain injury