A tear Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from his first round match at Indian wells With a wrist injury.
This is another setback of the delayed return of Kyrgios to competitive tennis after 18 months with various injury problems, including the same right wrist, on which he needs surgery in September 2023.
He had followed 7-6 (9-7), 3-0 against Botic Van de Zandschulp when he chose to retire, becoming visibly emotional when he spoke to a coach before shaking the Dutch hand.
The Australian had retaliated by 4-1 to force a break in equality, but could not convert a point of adjustment and began to fight physically. He later admitted that he had to stop training two days before when he felt pain in the wrist.
“This process has probably been one of the biggest challenges I have faced in my life,” he said. “Reality is not too bad, but for my tennis career, it is by far the greatest.
“I guess it’s just the amount of work I do and I always have so much discomfort in my wrist. It is I guess why I became a little emotional towards the end because it is one of my favorite tournaments. “”
It was the first 29 -year game since a defeat in the first round at the Australian Open In January, when he fought with abdominal muscle tension.
His next programmed tournament is the Miami OpenThe second half of the “Double Sunshine” after Indian Wells, which begins on March 18.
However, he indicated that his participation in Miami was now in doubt.
“We are going back to the team drawing board and we are trying to find a way to go through these games,” said Kyrgios.
“I would have liked to be able to finish this match, even if I lose, just like a construction block. But now, if I do not finish the games, it becomes a concern.”
Kyrgios declared after the Australian Open that he had perhaps played in his last match in simple home at home, while he and the partner double Thanasi Kokkinakis I had to retire halfway through their first round match in Melbourne Park with the two injuries.
“No one in sport had a reconstruction of the wrist and tried to play after that,” added Kyrgios.
“This is a whole experience at this stage. I was told that I probably never played tennis again.”
Van de Zandsculp will play Novak Djokovic In the second round, the Serbian sown and receiving a first -round bye.
