Nick Kyrgios pulls out of Australian Open 2023 due to injury one day before first round match in Melbourne

ByJames Kilpatrick

Updated 16/01/2023 at 08:03 GMT

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Australian Open due to a knee injury. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist says he "did not pull up great" after an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic on Friday and has now pulled out of his home Grand Slam. Kyrgios has a tear in his lateral meniscus and a cyst and will have arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open due to a knee injury.

Kyrgios had already withdrawn from the United Cup and a warm-up tournament in Adelaide at the start of 2023 with the expectation that he would be fit enough to take part in the opening Grand Slam of the year.

The world No. 21 was due to play Roman Safiullin in the first round on Tuesday, but on Monday afternoon he announced his withdrawal from his home Slam.

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Kyrgios' physio Will Maher who assessed his injury believes he should be able to return for Indian Wells in March.

"Bad timing. Injuries are part of the sport," he told reporters. "I’m not doubting that I’ll be back to my full strength.

"I'm devastated, obviously, it's my home Slam and going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal."

Kyrgios said he felt discomfort in his knee over the last two weeks and used last Friday's exhibition match with Novak Djokovic to gauge the severity of the injury.

"I wanted to give myself hope, I thought I had a chance," he said.

'That's life - injuries are part of the sport' - Kyrgios reacts to pulling out of Australian Open

The Australian reached the second round of the Australian Open last year before losing to Daniil Medvedev in four sets.

Kyrgios' withdrawal also means he will not defend his Australian Open men's doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.

On the men's side of the draw, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the tournament due to a leg injury while 2018 finalist Marin Cilic also withdrew last week.

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Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk. Play our Australian Open Predictor Game - choose your bracket for the men's and women's draws in Melbourne.

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