(Melbourne) Psychologically “destroyed” Australian Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open on Monday on the eve of his entry due to a knee injury, he announced .
He is due to undergo an arthroscopy in his hometown of Canberra in the coming days and return to competition in March in Indian Wells, according to his physiotherapist.
The 21e world hoped to succeed in front of his public at least the same course as that which had taken him to the final at Wimbledon last year. He was to start on Tuesday against the Russian Roman Safiullin (97e).
“It’s one of the most important tournaments of my career, it was not easy at all” to make this decision to withdraw, underlined the 27-year-old player who has never exceeded the quarters of final in Melbourne.
“I am destroyed [psychologiquement]it is my national tournament, I have excellent memories there and in particular the title in doubles last year [avec Thanasi Kokkinakis] and to get there this year being one of the favorites was crazy, but all I have to do is do the right thing and come back,” commented Kyrgios.
“I have no doubt that I will return to my best level and that I will replay the tennis that I played until then”, he however hammered.
His physiotherapist Will Maher said Kyrgios had “knee problems for about a week”.
“It’s not a serious injury that puts his career in jeopardy,” said Maher.
“Nick wants to play being sure to hold the seven games necessary to go until the title, that is to say potentially seven times three hours. Just entering the court is not enough for him,” he added.
He will therefore undergo an arthroscopy “then will have the month of February to recover”, he specified.
