(Paris) Australian Nick Kyrgios withdrew from injury Monday for the ATP 500 tournament in Halle, preparatory to Wimbledon, a week after his elimination in the first round in Stuttgart where he played for the first time since October 2022.
Finalist at Wimbledon last year, Kyrgios (31e World Cup) retired before playing his first game in Halle citing a knee injury. He had already given up Roland-Garros because of a painful knee after having surgery on the left meniscus in January.
“I’ve tried everything to be fit here in Halle over the past few days, but I had to make the decision to forfeit,” said the 28-year-old.
“When I play I want it to be at a pace similar to mine here last year when I reached the semi-finals, but that’s not possible,” he added. .
The Australian was obviously out of form and handicapped by his knee in his comeback match last Tuesday in Stuttgart, against China’s Wu Yibing, losing 7-5, 6-3. “I have knee pain at every point, I can’t walk without pain,” he admitted during the match.
Kyrgios is replaced in the main draw of the German tournament on grass by the Russian Aslan Karatsev (45e), drafted from the qualifications and who will face the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (39e).
