Nick Kyrgios says he knew he wanted to tug out of the Australian Open after practising towards his mate, doubles accomplice and fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Just earlier than 4pm on the primary day of the event on Monday, the news that Kyrgios was calling an sudden press convention echoed throughout the media constructing at Melbourne Park.
Journalists rushed to the theatre and watched in anticipation as Kyrgios and his physio Will Maher walked quietly into the room.
In disappointing news for Aussie tennis followers, the 27-year-old pulled out of the event, citing a knee damage.
“I got off the court yesterday and was dealing with it and we were going to make a call then,” Kyrgios defined of the timing.
“I was, like, you know, I’ve worked so hard, put myself in the position to be — you know, I was ranked outside 100 a year ago. Now I’ve had the year I had last year and back inside the 20, being seeded at a Grand Slam, feeling as good as I’m feeling and playing the way I’m feeling.
“I wanted to give myself a chance.”
That dream was crushed on Monday, in the future earlier than Kyrgios was scheduled to play Roman Safiullin in spherical one of many event.
“I had some hope but after today I hit with Thanasi and someone who is playing the way he is playing, he pushed me around the court a little bit and that was more of a realistic type hit of the intensity that was coming,” he stated.
“So it was easier to make the call today.”
Just days earlier than the bombshell announcement, Kyrgios defeated Novak Djokovic in a charity warm-up match at Rod Laver Arena on Friday.Maher stated the match was used to gauge whether or not Kyrgios might compete on the highest stage.
“He didn’t pull up great and he still tried to give himself every chance in the following days to have subsequent training,” the physiotherapist stated.
“But it was clear that with each passing session that he was getting sorer and sorer.”
Maher stated whereas it was “impossible” to say precisely when the damage occurred, it had solely turn out to be “a real problem” within the final fortnight.
Kyrgios stated he had “barely had a good night’s sleep the last four, five nights” due to fixed throbbing in his knee.
Technically talking, Maher stated Kyrgios had a parameniscal cyst rising in his left meniscus, which was the results of a small tear in his lateral meniscus.
Mr Maher stated the damage was not profession threatening however pulling out of the event was a “sensible” determination.
Last week, Kyrgios had a process to attempt to drain the cyst and had hoped that had been sufficient to permit him to compete within the Australian Open.
Kyrgios will now head again to Canberra to have a process to take away the cyst and expects to be again on the court docket for Indian Wells in March.
“The prognosis is good and he’ll be fine. We just go back to work and make sure everything is fine for him and we go again,” Maher stated.
Kyrgios stated he was “extremely devastated” and that it was “brutal” to have to tug out of his residence event.
“I’ve had some great memories here. Obviously last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably,” he stated.
“Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal. All I can do now is just look forward, do what I need to do and come back.”
