The year 2023 has not started in the best way for Nick Kyrgios. The talented Aussie has received a lot of criticism after withdrawing from the United Cup with an ankle injury. In addition to not leading the Australian team in the first edition of the tournament, fans were not pleased that Nick was involved in several performances in December.
Today the news broke that the 27-year-old player from Canberra will not even participate in the Adelaide International 2, scheduled for next week. Thus, Kyrgios will appear at the Australian Open without any official match on his legs.
Let’s remember that the first Slam of the year will begin on Monday, January 16 at Melbourne Park and much is expected of Kyrgios after the final he reached at Wimbledon in 2022. Nick will play the role of a luxury outsider in the AO and will try to surprise the big favorites of the eve.
The man to beat is undoubtedly Novak Djokovic, without forgetting the defending champion, Rafael Nadal, and the finalist of the last two editions, Daniil Medvedev. In an interview with “The Age”, Daniel Horsfall, Kyrgios’ manager, urged fans and those familiar with the situation not to talk too much: “Nick Kyrgios’ team is working day and night to get him ready for the Australian Open.
A lot of people were upset when Nick announced his withdrawal from the United Cup, but I hope they now realize that the injury is genuine. I wish people would ask a few more questions before opening their mouths.” Tennis Australia director Craig Tiley also defended Kyrgios: “I have spoken to Nick several times in recent days.
He withdrew from the United Cup and Adelaide ATP as a precaution, as advised, to protect his ankle. ahead of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios defends Djokovic
In a recent interview on The JBK Show, Nick Kyrgios spoke about how unfair treatment experienced at the Australian Open in 2022 affected the Serb.
“Yeah. It’s (Australian deportation) probably the worst thing tennis could have done to him. Because now, he is just hungry. Every event he’s playing, he does – he knows that he might not be able to play next week – so he’s gonna do everything he can to win that tournament.
He’s almost harder to beat now,” Nick Kyrgios said. “Yeah, we chat a lot now. At the end of the day, if you defend someone, you know, in real life situations where you know, you expect people to stand up for you.
No one else did but me. And now, he was really thinking there’s no chance that Kyrgios (will),” the 27-year-old recalled.
