Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of an exhibition match after picking up a new injury (Image: Getty)
‘ Australian Open hopes are in doubt after he pulled out of a warm-up match against .
The former world No. 13 made his comeback from a two-year injury layoff at last week’s Brisbane International, losing his opening singles match.
He was set to join Djokovic in a pre-tournament exhibition at Melbourne Park on Thursday but has now abandoned the plans after suffering a new physical setback.
“Unfortunately won’t be able to play my good friend @djokernole this Thursday on the 9th as I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade 1 strain,” Kyrgios wrote on .
“Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK by the AusOpen.”
The 29-year-old has not competed in his home Grand Slam tournament since 2022, spending the last two years sidelined by knee and wrist injuries that required surgery.
He returned to competition in Brisbane last week, crashing out in the singles but winning one match in doubles alongside Djokovic.
Nick Kyrgios said he felt his wrist ‘throbbing’ while competing in Brisbane (Image: Getty)
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Kyrgios had already raised injury concerns following his opening-round defeat to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. He received treatment on the right wrist where he previously ruptured his scapholunate ligament.
Afterwards, the former finalist said he could feel his wrist “throbbing”. He added: “After today I’m super excited for the . If I’m able to play, I’m able to play. But the reality kind of set in for me.
“That’s a best-of-three match with my wrist. If I’m able to [play], not only is a Grand Slam mentally really draining, it’s physically a grind.
“I think I almost need a miracle, and I need, like, the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a Grand Slam for sure.”
However, his body felt fine otherwise. “I felt relatively pretty good physically,” Kyrgios continued. “My legs and my body felt really good. I felt fit and I’m in great shape, but obviously felt some discomfort with the wrist.”
It seems likely Kyrgios will keep his name in the draw and give himself as much time as possible to recover before the tournament gets underway on Sunday. He could play his first-round match as late as Tuesday.
The draw will be made on Thursday at 2.30pm local time. Kyrgios, who entered the tournament using a protected ranking, will be unseeded and could face a top player straight off the bat.