Nick Kyrgios’s hopes of ending his country’s 47-year wait for a homegrown men’s champion at the Australian Open have been shattered on the opening day when he was forced to pull out of the tournament with a knee injury on Monday
The Australian No 1, considered one of the favo@urites after reaching his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon last@ summer, had not played a warm-up event because of a knee injury.
He played a charity match against Novak Djokovic on Friday and did not indicate his participation was in doubt, but he called an impromptu press conference on Monday afternoon where he said he was “devastated” to have to withdraw due to a small tear in his lateral meniscus (knee).
Kyrgios said: “I’m devastated, obviously. It’s my home tournament. I’ve had some great memories here. Obviously, last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably.
Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal. All I can do now is just look forward, do what I need to do and come back.”
Kyrgios said he had given himself every chance of competing but that a hit with doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis on Monday morning convinced him he had to pull out.
