Australia's Nick Kyrgios speaks during a press conference ahead of of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London The Australian showstopper Nick Kyrgios had knee surgery in January and then aborted plans to return at Wimbledon after tearing a ligament in his wrist. Picture: Florian Eisele/various sources/AFP
Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Australian Open on Saturday as he continues to struggle for fitness after a long injury absence, calling the decision “heartbreaking".
The Australian showstopper had knee surgery in January and then aborted plans to return at Wimbledon after tearing a ligament in his wrist.
He said last month "the stars would need to align" for him to be ready for his home Grand Slam in January, and the one-time world number 13 confirmed on Saturday time had run out.
"So, this is a very disappointing time for me, but I won't be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open," Kyrgios said on the subscription website OnlyFans, which he joined as a content creator last week.
"Obviously, heartbreaking. I've had so many amazing memories there, and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time.
"Even though I won't be there competing this year at the AO, I still will be around, commentating matches, being around," he added.
Last month, Kyrgios said that winning a Grand Slam remained his driving force, having come closest at Wimbledon in 2022 when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final.
The Australian Open runs from January 14-28 at Melbourne Park, with Aryna Sabalenka defending the women's title and Djokovic, the men’s.
While Kyrgios will be missing, 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal -- who has not played since this year's Australian Open due to injury -- is on the entry list.
So too is four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who gave birth to daughter Shai in July. She has not played since September 2022, having also struggled with her mental health.
AFP