'Devastated' Kyrgios out of Australian Open

1 year ago 71

A "devastated" Nick Kyrgios has been forced to retreat from the Australian Open connected the eve of his archetypal match.

The Aussie No.19 tourney effect was acceptable to instrumentality connected Roman Safiullin connected Tuesday, but present volition not play owed to a genu injury.

He has been replaced successful the men's gully by 30-year-old American subordinate Denis Kudla.

FOLLOW LIVE: Australian Open 2023 time one

"I'm devastated obviously, it's my location slam," Kyrgios told media connected Monday.

"Obviously I'm conscionable exhausted from everything. Pretty brutal... (this is) 1 of the astir important tournaments of my career."

"It hasn't been casual astatine all."

Kyrgios, 27, was rated a $15 accidental with immoderate bookmakers to triumph the tournament, having enjoyed his champion play connected circuit successful 2022.

He was forced to retreat from the United Cup past period owed to injury, but participated successful an accumulation lucifer against Novak Djokovic past Friday which sold retired successful Melbourne.

Kyrgios' physiotherapist explained they had utilized that accumulation lucifer to trial retired a genu issue, and connected Monday it was decided the superstar was not acceptable capable to effort to triumph 7 consecutive matches required to triumph the Open.

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

"We person made the sensible determination to retreat him," physio Will Maher said.

"At this signifier helium wants to beryllium mentally comfy that helium tin spell 7 matches and spell the distance. Getting connected the tribunal simply wasn't capable for him.

"The concern present we privation to forestall him from having further wounded oregon making that wounded worse. So present he'll spell backmost to Canberra astatine the extremity of the week."

Maher explained determination is simply a cist connected Kyrgios' genu which volition request to beryllium drained and treated.

They expect Kyrgios to beryllium acceptable to vie astatine Indian Wells successful March, past hopefully to Wimbledon wherever helium made the last past year.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!