Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Australian Open amid Injury Woes

Published at :December 9, 2023 at 9:00 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:17 AM

(Courtesy : Sky Sports)

The Australian will miss his home Grand Slam for a second straight season.

Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Australian Open 2024 due to ongoing fitness struggles. This decision, described by Kyrgios as “heartbreaking”, follows a year of health setbacks for the player.

Kyrgios’ injury woes persisted throughout the year, causing him to miss the French Open due to a foot injury and withdraw from Wimbledon and the US Open due to a wrist ligament issue. Despite these setbacks, Kyrgios had a successful 2022 campaign, winning the Washington title and making the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.

Kyrgios and the Australian Open have had a tumultuous relationship. He missed out on the Australian Open last year as well. He has yet to surpass his 2015 quarter-final appearance in Melbourne in Singles, although he did partner with fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis to achieve doubles success two years ago.

“This is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open,” Nick Kyrgios said on OnlyFans, a subscription website where he joined as a content creator last week.

“Obviously, heartbreaking. I’ve had so many amazing memories there, and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time.

“I was so close to winning a Grand Slam. I want to make sure that my body is going to have the time it needs to come back, so please bear with me.”

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The Australian Open, scheduled to run from January 14-28 at Melbourne Park, will proceed without Kyrgios. The tournament will feature Aryna Sabalenka defending the women’s title and Novak Djokovic defending the men’s.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who gave birth to daughter Shai in July and has not played since September 2022 due to mental health struggles, is also set to return. Osaka is targeting more Grand Slam titles and a return at the Paris Olympics.

The Australian men’s charge at Melbourne Park will be led by World No.12 Alex de Minaur. Other players in the main draw include Alexei Popyrin, Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson, Aleksandar Vukic, Kokkinakis, Christoper O’Connell, and Rinky Hijikata.

Although his name was absent from the main draw for the Australian Open announced on Thursday, Kyrgios is expected to attend the tournament in a TV commentary role.

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