ATP
Fragile Kyrgios pulls the plus on Djoko AO exhibition
Nick Kyrgios on Wednesday walked into another crisis as he pulled from a pre-Australian Open exhibition with Novak Djokovic at the last minute.
The hit-and-giggle was to have been staged on Thursday night, but the Kyrgios withdrawal for fitness reasons casts a huge shadow over his much-touted return to the Grand Slam which starts on Sunday.
The 29-year-old one-time Wimbledon finalist has not played for two seasons, give or take a match in June, 2023 in Stuttgart, with injuries dominating his life in that bleak period.
He returned last week at the Brisbane International, going out in the first round to Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
“The Night With Novak’ event at Rod Laver Arena will somehow carry on without him.
“Unfortunately won’t be able to play my good friend @djokernole this Thursday on the 9th as I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade 1 strain,” Kyrgios posted on social media.
“Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK by the Aus Open.”