Nick Kyrgios had been hoping to play doubles with Jordan Thompson at the French Open, but has been forced to withdraw with a knee injury in the latest of a long line of problems
Nick Kyrgios is “pretty down” after yet another injury ruined his chances of playing at the French Open. Kyrgios had been excited to play doubles alongside fellow Australian Jordan Thompson at Roland Garros, only for his fitness issues to flare up again.
The 30-year-old’s career has been blighted by injuries in recent years, prompting him to turn to the media for work. Kyrgios has struggled with foot, knee and wrist injuries since reaching the final of Wimbledon and has played only four singles matches this year.
There were positive signs when Kyrgios won his first singles match for two and a half years against Mackenzie McDonald in Miami in March. But disaster struck just as he was gearing up to play doubles with Thompson, whose regular doubles partner Max Purcell is serving a ban for infringing doping regulations.
“Nick was really pumped to play here. He kept messaging me every week, ‘you good to go to for dubs at Roland Garros?'” Thompson, who finished as runners-up with Kyrgios as juniors at the 2012 US Open, told reporters at Roland Garros.
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“I know he was back home in Australia training on clay but a few days ago, Nick told me that he’s done something to his knee, so unfortunately, he just couldn’t be here.
“He was pretty down. He told me he doesn’t know how much more of these injuries he can take, and you’ve just got to feel for him. Because as much as he says things in the media, I think he loves playing tennis and he loves being on the court.”
Kyrgios has not played at the French Open since 2017, but will still be in Paris in his capacity as a co-commentator and pundit. His injury has seen Thompson pair up with another Australian in Jason Kubler and they open their doubles campaign against French duo Quentin Halys and Albano Olivetti in the first round on Tuesday.
Kyrgios previously had reconstructive surgery on his wrist and has struggled to get back into the swing of things since. He is currently ranked No.633 in the world and there are serious questions about his future in the sport.
Discussing his physical struggles on the Nothing Major podcast in December, he admitted that he has doubted how long he can continue to play. “Every time I play tennis now, I got to do an hour and a half treatment after like my wrist,” he said.
“I lose feeling in my fingers sometimes. It’s tingling. So I’m definitely on the back end. I couldn’t see myself playing for another, max a year and a half, probably. Like with my body, honestly, with my wrist at the moment.”
He reached his singles career-high ranking of No.13 in October 2016 and has earned $12,648,790 (£9,342,312) in prize money from doubles and singles over the years. But his continued problems with injuries and embracing of the media suggest that he may struggle to return to the sport.
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