Nick Kyrgios’ Uphill Battle: The Pinnacle of Tennis Injuries Sparks Uncertainty
After disclosing that he is having “some wrist issues,” former world No. 13 Kyrgios will miss his home Grand Slam, the Australian Open, for the second year in a row.
The 28-year-old only participated in one match in 2023 since he had to withdraw from the Australian Open early in the year due to a knee injury, and he also missed Wimbledon because of a wrist issue.
Although Kyrgios told supporters, “I want to make sure that my body is going to have the time it needs to come back so please bear with me,” he has expressed his desire to play again, but his future is still uncertain.
The nature of the injuries is troubling because 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro has been unable to fulfil his full potential because of a series of wrist problems, while tennis legend Roger Federer retired in 2022 after failing to overcome a knee injury.
Brett Phillips, a well-known pundit for SEN and Nine, acknowledges that he worries Kyrgios may never come back.
“His wounds have finally caught up with him.” To be completely honest, I really believe he will have difficulty returning,” he stated on SEN Breakfast.
He is capable of doing a lot of things outside of tennis. He recently tried his hand at commentary and did an excellent job of it; we know he has a strong background and a decent IQ, so he will be in demand.
He is, after all, 28 years old. Nick Kyrgios mentioned he might be retiring two years ago, but he never mentioned he would play tennis far into his 30s or have a lengthy career.
“These two injuries—the wrist and knee—are among the worst that can occur in tennis, in my opinion.
“[Juan Martin] Del Potro was unable to recover from a wrist ailment, while Roger Federer was unable to recover from two knee surgeries… the physical demands of the game, you can see that the calibre of talent that has emerged since Nick has been mostly idle is on a completely different level.
If Kyrgios makes a run at it during the 2024 ATP Tour, he might find it difficult to adjust.
“So I’m fascinated,” Phillips continued. We’ve questioned whether it’s absolutely top billing for him to be a professional tennis player first and foremost for a number of years, and I think the longer he’s out, the harder it will be for him to return and whether he has the desire to return.
We simply have been accustomed to him not playing, which is the current state of affairs.
