A leading Australian tennis analyst believes Nick Kyrgios may never play again, fearing over a year on the sidelines with injuries will ensure he cannot return to the top level.
The former Wimbledon finalist has always suggested he would retire young and played just one match in 2023, attempting a comeback in June, but knee and wrist injuries proved too much to overcome.
Last week he announced he would miss a second consecutive Australian Open.
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“Obviously had a really tough year with injury, had that knee surgery and came back a little too soon, (which has) set me back a little bit (and I’ve) had some wrist issues,” Kyrgios told his OnlyFans subscribers.
“So, this is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open.”
The mounting injuries, as well as the exact types of them, may mean Kyrgios struggles to return at all – and certainly appears unlikely to contend for a maiden grand slam title if he does.
“The injuries have caught up with him. I actually think he’s going to struggle to get back, to be totally honest,” SEN and Nine commentator Brett Phillips said on SEN Breakfast.
“There’s a plethora of stuff he can do away from tennis. He’s dabbled in commentary recently and made a good fist of that, we know he’s got a good IQ and he’s got his foundation, he’ll be in demand.
“I mean he’s 28. Nick Kyrgios never spoke about being a tennis player who was going to play deep into his 30s and have a long career of tennis, he spoke about being possibly retired two years ago.
“I think these injuries, the knee, wrist, they’re two of the worst you can get in tennis.
“(Juan Martin) Del Potro couldn’t come back from a wrist injury, Roger Federer couldn’t get back from a couple of knee surgeries… the physical demands of the game, if you look what has happened since Nick has been largely inactive, the breed of talent that’s come through, they’re at a whole other level.”
The former world No.13 will also have to deal with a younger generation of players finally threatening to break Novak Djokovic’s stranglehold on the sport, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“Kyrgios could come back and he’s got his serve which could make him ultra competitive but to go with these guys off the ground, your lateral movement, physicality, that’s never been Nick’s strong suit, to be totally honest,” Phillips said.
“So I’m fascinated. I think the longer he’s out it’s going to be harder for him to come back and whether he’s got the total desire to come back, he’s got so much going on that I don’t know if it’s absolute top billing for him to be a professional tennis player first and foremost, we’ve questioned that for a number of years.
“We’re just used to him not playing, which is the reality of the situation.”
The Australian Open begins on January 14.