Australian Open: ‘devastated’ Nick Kyrgios pulls out tournament with knee injury, calls decision ‘brutal’
- Home favourite forced to call it quits a day before scheduled first-round match against Roman Safiullin
A “devastated” Nick Kyrgios pulled out of the Australian Open on Monday — the day before he was scheduled to play his first-round singles match — because of an injured left knee that needs arthroscopic surgery.
The 27-year-old Australian was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year in singles and teamed up with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis to claim the men’s doubles championship at the 2022 Australian Open.
Kyrgios was considered the host country’s strongest chance to win a title at Melbourne Park this year, and no man from Australia has won the singles trophy there since 1976.
“Just bad timing. But that’s life,” said a downcast Kyrgios, who occasionally lowered his head or covered his face with a hand during a news conference at Melbourne Park alongside his physical therapist, Will Maher. “Injury is a part of the sport.”
Kyrgios announced his withdrawal on day one of action at the year’s first grand slam tournament.
“I’m just exhausted from everything. Obviously pretty brutal,” Kyrgios said of the decision to sit out. “One of the most important tournaments of my career. Hasn’t been easy at all.”
He was seeded 19th in Melbourne and was supposed to face Roman Safiullin in the first round on Tuesday.
