Nick Kyrgios explains reason for pulling out of crucial pre-Australian Open tournament just hours before first match

Nick Kyrgios pulled out of a crucial pre-Australian Open match at the last minute on Monday and now the Aussie star has revealed why.

Kyrgios won’t take part in the Sydney Tennis Classic. Picture: Jeremy Ng / AFP

Nick Kyrgios is racing the clock to be fit for the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19 at the worst possible time.

The polarising Aussie pulled out of the Sydney Tennis Classic on Monday, just hours before his first round match at the crucial pre-Australian Open tournament.

The move left fans scratching their heads – Kyrgios hadn’t played a singles match in nearly four months, and the Sydney Tennis Classic was his last chance to limber up before the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.

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On Monday evening, Kyrgios took to social media to explain himself.

“Hey everyone, I just want to be open and transparent with everyone, the reason I have had to pull out of Sydney is because I tested positive for Covid,” Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram story.

Kyrgios said he was asymptomatic and hopeful he could bounce back in time for the Australian Open.

“I am feeling healthy at the moment with no symptoms,” said Kyrgios, who withdrew from the Melbourne Summer Set last week due to asthma.

“I wish everyone all the best and to stay safe where you can.

“If all goes well, I will see you all at the Australian Open.”

Kyrgios has come down with Covid-19 at the worst possible time, but says he is asymptomatic. Picture: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images / AFP

Late last year, Kyrgios was given a wildcard entry into the Sydney Tennis Classic, which began on Monday at Sydney’s Olympic Park precinct.

The former World No. 13 had been due to face the tournament’s seventh seed, Italian Fabio Fognini, at Ken Rosewall Arena in the evening.

Speaking at a Sydney Tennis Classic Event only two days prior, Kyrgios said he was looking forward to the summer ahead, but the bout of Covid-19 has now put his Australian Open hopes under a cloud.

“I just want to go out there and have fun,” he said.

“I want to put on a good performance. It’s Australian summer.

“People are expecting me to put on a good show and I think I’m capable of doing that still.”

Kyrgios last took to the court in late September at the Laver Cup, losing in straight sets to current World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Kyrgios had been given a wildcard entry into the Sydney Tennis Classic. Picture: Jeremy Ng / AFP

Thompson triumphs

Earlier on day one of the Sydney Tennis Classic, Jordan Thompson ensured at least one Aussie would be playing in the second round of the tournament by polishing off American Marcos Giron in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

Giron had the wood on Thompson early, forcing the local boy to up his work rate and compete on the run.

But looking in good shape since recovering from Covid-19 late last year, Thompson collected himself and staged a comeback from 3-1 down in the first set.

Both players’ frustrations boiled to the surface on a muggy afternoon at Ken Rosewall Arena, but it was the Aussie World No. 75 who made the best of the trying conditions.

As Lleyton Hewitt, actress Rebel Wilson and his girlfriend, former Bachelor contestant Brittany Hockley, watched on, Thompson took out five of the last six games to win the first set.

He wasn’t to be denied from there, proving even more dominant in the second set and running out the victor.

Thompson won 11 of the last 14 games in the match to turn an initially tight tussle into a blowout on the scoresheet.

Thompson won in front of his home crowd. Picture: Mark Evans / Getty Images

Even as a Sydney native, Thompson admitted he took his time to acclimatise to the playing conditions.

“I’ve been practising outside, obviously this is inside, so it took me a few games to get going, but luckily I did and I finished strong,” said Thompson, who was awarded a wildcard to play in the Sydney Tennis Classic.

Thompson made it to the second round of the Melbourne Summer Set last week and said he was pleased to have started the year with a spring in his step.

“I shed a few kilos when I got Covid (last year), so I worked my butt off to get back in shape,” he explained.

“I feel like I’m getting there and I felt pretty good today.

“It’s good to be back on court and playing matches.”

Thompson will meet the tournament’s fourth seed, American Reilly Opelka, in the second round.

The World No. 25 is an intimidating presence on the court, standing at 211cm tall, but Thompson won the pair’s only previous meeting at the Surbiton Challenger in 2017.

Thompson rejected suggestion the win would give him an edge over Opelka, though.

 “He’s a much better player now. It never gets easier. In fact, it gets harder,” he said.

“He’s generally going to hold serve, he’s going to knock down aces. You’ve got to work on your reactions, (take) one point at a time and just see how it goes.”

Hon is out of the Sydney Tennis Classic. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP)

Elsewhere, Aussie Priscilla Hon bowed out of the Sydney Tennis Classic after losing to highly-fancied Romanian opponent Jaqueline Cristian.

Ranked No.223 in the world and awarded a wildcard to compete at the tournament, Hon stayed in the fight to send the first set to a tiebreaker.

Ultimately, though, she couldn’t go the distance with the World No.73 andexited the tournament with a 6-7, 5-7 loss.