Truth behind 'devastated' Kyrgios' decision

1 year ago 81

Australian tennis large Jelena Dokic has backed Nick Kyrgios' agonising determination to propulsion retired of the Australian Open, doubting that the prima could person played astatine the level required to triumph expansive slam matches with his genu injury.

Kyrgios connected Monday nighttime released a photograph showing the grisly aftermath of a process during which helium had a cyst successful his genu drained earlier taking the tribunal for his Friday nighttime signifier lucifer with Novak Djokovic.

That photo, combined with the confirmation that Kyrgios required country earlier resuming his docket for 2023, was capable to person Dokic that pulling retired without attempting to commencement the tourney was the 19th seed's lone option.

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Asked if Kyrgios had made the "wise" prime by withdrawing, alternatively than attempting to get done his archetypal circular lucifer with the wounded and negociate it done the tournament, Dokic responded that helium had nary realistic alternative.

"I don't deliberation helium had immoderate prime really due to the fact that I don't deliberation helium could spell retired determination and play connected the knee," Dokic told Wide World of Sports The Morning Serve.

"I don't deliberation it was astir protecting it I deliberation it was astir the information that helium truly wasn't capable to get retired determination and play successful the end.

"I cognize he's been trying to get acceptable for a fewer weeks present and helium had to retreat from the United Cup, truthful decidedly wasn't successful bully capable signifier to bash it, truthful it's perfectly a omniscient determination to bash it, arsenic hard arsenic it is - helium said it's been hard for him to marque this decision."

Dokic added that it was unreasonable to formed uncertainty implicit Kyrgios' determination to play a televised warm-up lucifer against Djokovic arsenic helium attempted to flooded the genu issue, explaining that helium had to "test it" successful lucifer conditions to marque a considered determination astir whether oregon not to participate the draw.

Tennis Legend reacts to Kyrgios' Aus Open withdrawal: The Morning Serve - Day 2

"I don't deliberation it was thing that helium shouldn't person done due to the fact that I deliberation helium got the accidental to trial it, which is what helium said helium did, and helium didn't deliberation helium could basal up adjacent week," Dokic said.

"So helium got the accidental to play benignant of an authoritative match, adjacent though it was benignant of easy. Even aft that helium didn't propulsion up well, truthful helium knew helium wouldn't beryllium capable to play."

Djokovic himself is present successful immoderate doubt, with a persistent hamstring wounded forcing him to modify his signifier schedule.

The Serbian superstar, who is simply a short-priced favourite to seizure his 10th Australian Open rubric adjacent week, is owed to commencement his tourney against Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena successful the 2nd nighttime league lucifer connected Rod Laver Arena Tuesday.

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