MELBOURNE, Australia — Nick Kyrgios was pressured Monday to withdraw from the Australian Open, simply 24 hours forward of his scheduled first-round match towards Roman Safiullin, due to a knee harm.
Kyrgios, Australia’s highest-ranked males’s tennis participant, referred to as an impromptu information convention throughout Day 1 at Melbourne Park to announce {that a} routine MRI scan found a small tear in his lateral meniscus.
“I am devastated. It is brutal,” Kyrgios stated. “That is my dwelling event, and clearly successful the event in doubles [last year] and taking part in the very best tennis of my life. All I can do is my greatest to return again.”
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Kyrgios had confronted nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in a charity match Friday night at Melbourne Park. His physiotherapist, Will Maher, stated Kyrgios “did not pull up nice” from the exhibition and was in no state to participate in a Grand Slam.
“We used the charity occasion towards Novak to see if he may compete on the highest stage,” Maher stated. “It has been [a] fairly interrupted and tough lead-in. Within the final week, Nick has skilled discomfort in his knee. There is a small tear in his lateral meniscus. It was value persevering to see if he can get again on courtroom. To Nick’s credit score, he did every part to get again on courtroom.”
Kyrgios was coming off a career-best 12 months wherein he gained the Australian Open doubles title alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier than reaching the Wimbledon remaining, which he in the end misplaced to Djokovic.
He’s anticipated to return to Canberra for surgical procedure within the subsequent couple of weeks.
“Clearly a combination of feelings [but] that is life. It is a part of the game,” he stated. “I am not doubting that I will be again to my full power.”