MELBOURNE, Australia — Nick Kyrgios is facing yet another setback in his quest to return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open, as an abdominal strain has prompted him to withdraw from an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic scheduled for this week.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who has been battling injuries to his wrist and knee since the 2022 U.S. Open, shared the unfortunate news via Instagram on Wednesday, revealing that an ultrasound had confirmed the abdominal strain. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to hit the court with my good friend Djokovic this Thursday.”
While Kyrgios underscored that the injury is “not too serious,” he conveyed to Australian broadcaster 7News that it would impact his preparation for the Australian Open, set to kick off this Sunday at Melbourne Park.
“I’ve got five days left before the tournament, so I likely won’t be serving for a couple of days,” Kyrgios shared. “I have a few practice sessions lined up and I’ll do everything in my power to be ready. It’s nothing major, so I’ll take it one day at a time to maximize my chances.”
The dynamic Australian, who has become a fan favorite with his engaging commentary during his lengthy recovery, made his competitive return last week in Brisbane. He played one singles match and teamed up with Djokovic for two doubles contests.
In their first doubles match together, Kyrgios and Djokovic delighted the crowd with a lively performance, but they faced a tough 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 defeat against Croatia’s Nikola Mektic and New Zealand’s Michael Venus.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley expressed optimism about Kyrgios participating in this premier event of the year.
“We’ve been reassured that it’s just a precautionary measure,” Tiley commented on Wednesday, alluding to concerns regarding the availability of the Australian star. “Nick isn’t the only player modifying their pre-arranged matches in the days ahead. There’s no cause for concern as we approach the Open.”
