Kyrgios 47-year wait for a home Australian Open winner won’t end! He withdrew from the tournament due to injury. I’m devastated, he says

Extremely sad news! Nick Kyrgios has to miss the Australian Open this year. The Wimbledon runner-up has withdrawn from the tournament due to a knee injury.

The Australian tennis number one had some fantastic moments last season. Even winning a Grand Slam title. Albeit in a doubles match with friend Thanassi Kokkinakis, but at the beloved and home-grown Australian Open.

Then in the summer, for the first time, Nick Kyrgios confirmed his great qualities and reached the Wimbledon final. Although he was no match for Novak Djokovic, he gave a great ride.

Thanks to this, it was somewhat expected that the Australian would be one of the dark horses or one of the favourites for the Australian Open at the first Grand Slam of the season. But it’s not going to happen.

Kyrgios has a knee injury and has decided to withdraw from the tournament. Because of the injury, the famed stormtrooper and showman has not played any tournament to prepare for the Grand Slam. He only played a charity match with Djokovic.

“I’m obviously devastated. It’s my home tournament, I have great memories of it. I won the doubles title last year and probably played the best tennis of my life. Going into the tournament as one of the favourites? That’s unbelievable. But now I have to look ahead and do what it takes to come back,” Sky Sports quotes him as saying.

Kyrgios has a small tear in his meniscus and is facing a few weeks off. At best, he will return to action during March. Of course, that means withdrawing from doubles as well.

At the moment it is realistic that the Australian could make it to the Paribas Open in Indian Wells. As he says, he has barely slept the last five nights because of the pain. So withdrawing from the Australian Open is more than a reasonable step.

Source: Australian Open, Sky Sports