Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been dealt a fresh blow, withdrawing from an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic due to an abdominal injury.
The Australian Open is just around the corner, and this latest setback has put his participation in doubt.
A Frustrating Setback for Kyrgios
Kyrgios took to Instagram to break the news to his fans, revealing that he’s been diagnosed with a grade one abdominal strain.
“Unfortunately won’t be able to play my good friend Novak Djokovic this Thursday on the 9th as I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade one strain,” he wrote.
The 29-year-old has had a rough ride with injuries, having only recently recovered from a crippling wrist injury that kept him out of the game for over a year.
A Long History of Injuries
Kyrgios’ injury woes don’t stop there. He’s also had to deal with a knee injury that forced him to pull out of the 2023 Australian Open.
In fact, he’s required three rounds of surgery to repair the damage, threatening his career at one point. Despite this, Kyrgios remains determined to get back on the court and compete at the highest level.
Will He Make It to the Australian Open?
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley is confident that Kyrgios will take part in the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday. “Nick will be playing,” Tiley said.
“I think it’s just precautionary, that’s the word we’ve got from him.” However, with Kyrgios’ history of injuries, it’s hard not to worry about his chances of making it to the tournament.
What’s Next for Kyrgios?
Kyrgios has been given a protected ranking of No.21 for the Australian Open, and he’s still got his sights set on grand slam glory.
He’s also been selected for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Sweden, which would be his first appearance since 2019. Can he overcome this latest injury and get back to his best? Only time will tell.
A Mixed Bag for Kyrgios
Despite the setbacks, Kyrgios has shown flashes of his prodigious talent, including a tight loss in the second round of a recent tournament.
He’s also spoken about feeling “really good” physically, aside from his injured wrist. With the Australian Open draw taking place on Thursday, Kyrgios will be hoping that his body can hold up and he can make a deep run in the tournament.