Nick Kyrgios has broken his silence over his decision to withdraw from a practice event on the eve of the Australian Open, sparking some concern over whether he will be fit to play in the first slam of the year.
The 29-year-old, who recently made his long-awaited ATP Tour comeback at the Brisbane International last week, announced on Wednesday that he will forego playing an exhibition match on the eve of the first Grand Slam of the year.
Kyrgios was expected to line up alongside Novak Djokovic at the exhibition event after the pair dazzled fans at Pat Rafter Arena last week.
He stated that after undergoing an ultrasound, doctors confirmed that he was suffering from first-degree abdominal pain.
While fears have grown over his fitness to play in Melbourne, Kyrgios has now given fans hope he could return for the first round of the men’s singles tournament.
While he claimed his abdominal pain was “not too serious,” he added that teaming up with Djokovic on Thursday night might not be the best idea, especially given his recent spate of wrist, knee and foot injuries.
“I mean, look, I’ve got five days left,” Kyrgios said 7News.
‘I probably shouldn’t serve in the next few days, I have a few training sessions planned and I will do everything I can.
“It’s not too serious,” he added, in news that will surprise fans.
‘I just take it day by day and give myself the best chance.
‘Obviously playing a match, a set, tomorrow night with Novak is probably not the best preparation for me to force that.
“I’m just going to handle it accordingly. I know my body.’
Kyrgios was beaten by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a third-set tiebreak in last week’s men’s singles match in Brisbane.
While suffering defeat, Kyrgios seemingly suppressed any doubts about his tennis being a bit rusty, displaying excellent skills and tennis knowledge on the court.
In doubles, he and Djokovic had fans on their feet in Pat Rafter Arena. It was an impressive double act, with tennis’s great entertainer Kyrgios admitting he would have hung up the racket long ago if he didn’t think he could still thrill the fans.
‘I wouldn’t play if I didn’t think I could give [fans] some entertainment and some fun on the field,” he added.
‘I felt that in Brisbane. I only played three games, but I had the feeling that these were the three best games of those three weeks.
“I still feel like I have a little bit more to give to the fans.”
But some concerns still revolve around his injury record and whether the Australian Open might come a little too early for him.
“When my body feels good, I still feel like my level is there,” he added.
“Perricard got to the Brisbane semi-finals and I was a few points away from beating him.
‘But I still feel like I can compete with some of the best players in the world.
‘But right now my priority is to get my body right and just enjoy it again.
“I’ve got my whole team here and I feel like a bit of a veteran on tour.
‘I’m just going to enjoy these later stages of my career and not stress too much.
‘If I lose, I lose. I’ve had a really good career and I’m just going to enjoy it.’
More to follow…