Kyrgios's Australian Open Campaign Marred by Injury Concerns

Nick Kyrgios has expressed doubts about his future in singles tennis after struggling with an abdominal injury in his Australian Open loss.

A disappointed Nick Kyrgios admitted that his loss to Britain's Jacob Fearnley at the Australian Open on Monday might have marked his final singles appearance at his home Grand Slam. Kyrgios, who was struggling with an abdominal injury, was defeated 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(2) on his favorite John Cain Arena. The Australian player's frustration was evident throughout the match, as he grimaced in pain and directed expletives at his coaching box.

After the match, Kyrgios expressed his doubts about continuing to play singles at the Australian Open. “Realistically I can't really see myself probably playing singles again here,” a crestfallen Kyrgios told reporters. Despite his injury, Kyrgios chose not to retire from the match, showing respect for his opponent and the fans who had waited hours to see him play. “I didn't want to just throw in the towel and walk off or retire. I was hurting physically. I respect my opponent. The fans waited hours to come to see me play.”

Fearnley, who secured a controlled victory over Kyrgios, acknowledged that his opponent was struggling with an injury. “I'm sorry for Nick,” Fearnley said. “I could tell he was dealing with some stuff.” Fearnley's win was notable not only for his solid performance but also for the fact that he managed to subdue the notoriously noisy Melbourne night crowd.

Nick Kyrgios's Australian Open campaign has been marred by injury concerns, with the Australian struggling to overcome an abdominal strain in his first-round match. Kyrgios had only recently made his comeback after 18 months out, following knee surgery and wrist reconstruction, and his participation in the tournament was already in doubt. The worries about his fitness were confirmed when he withdrew from an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic four days ago.

During his first Australian Open match since 2022, Kyrgios was visibly struggling with his serve, wincing in pain and speaking to physios multiple times in the second set. The Australian acknowledged that his physical state was a significant hindrance, particularly with his serve. “With my physical state going into the match, I knew that I was going to be really hindered with my serve,” Kyrgios said. Despite his struggles, Kyrgios was determined to persevere, driven by the support of the fans.

Ever the showman 🎪 the ol' underarm, behind-the-back combo 😂

Welcome back to the court @NickKyrgios!#CanadianClubAO • #Cheeky • #DrinkResponsibly • @espn • @eurosport • @wwos • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/juRvcUdU7N

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025

Kyrgios expressed his disappointment at his physical limitations, feeling that his level of play is sufficient to compete at a high level. “It's obviously heartbreaking because I feel like my level's there,” Kyrgios added. However, he is still committed to participating in the doubles competition with fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. The pair has previously won the event, and Kyrgios feels a sense of obligation to compete. “We've won this event before. We owe it to each other I think to go out there in front of the crowd and have a bit of fun.”