Injured Kyrgios pulls out of Djokovic exhibition, Australian Open return in doubt

Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from Thursday’s exhibition event with Novak Djokovic due to an abdominal strain, further casting doubt on his chances of making an Australian Open comeback this month.

The Australian star, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, announced his withdrawal due to an abdominal injury, adding to a string of fitness concerns that have plagued him since late 2022.

Kyrgios revealed on Instagram that an ultrasound detected a grade one strain in his abdomen, forcing him to miss the “A Night With Novak” event at Rod Laver Arena. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play my good friend @djokernole this Thursday on the 9th,” Kyrgios wrote. “Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK by the Aus Open.”

Kyrgios has played just one ATP Tour match in the past two years, with a persistent wrist injury casting serious doubt on his career. However, he made a return to competitive action last week at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane, where he narrowly lost a hard-fought match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(3).

While Kyrgios showed signs of wrist discomfort during the match, his comeback has now been further complicated by a more significant setback. “I think I almost need a miracle, and I need the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a grand slam, for sure,” Kyrgios said following his Brisbane singles defeat. “It’s very sore… Today is another building block in the journey.”

Kyrgios has been battling a series of injuries, including knee, foot, and wrist issues, which have limited him to just one singles match since October 2022. Despite his fitness struggles, the 29-year-old is still named in Australia’s Davis Cup squad for their tie against Sweden on January 31 and February 1.

With the Australian Open starting on January 12 at Melbourne Park, Kyrgios’ participation in his home Grand Slam remains in serious doubt. Fans will be hoping for a swift recovery, but as the player himself acknowledged, the road to full fitness is proving to be a significant challenge.