Nick Kyrgios: Wrist injury has been "one of the biggest challenges" of my career

When Nick Kyrgios was forced to retire from his first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open due to a wrist injury, many tennis fans were disappointed but few seemed surprised. The 29-year-old’s participation in the tournament was already in jeopardy after he appeared to re-injure his surgically repaired wrist at a practice session two days ago.

Kyrgios still took the court on Thursday and warmed up as usual, and then played Botic van de Zandschulp in a close first set that went down to the wire. But as the Dutch player clinched the set 7-6 (7) and began to pull away in the second, it was clear the Aussie was in trouble.

>>> Read More: Nick Kyrgios injures wrist in practice, leaving Indian Wells return in question

Clearly emotional as tournament medical staff came out to evaluate his troublesome wrist, Kyrgios eventually called time on his first match back in Indian Wells since 2022.

Now, after weeks of training and rehab Kyrgios says it’s “back to the drawing board” for him and his team.

Q. Sorry to see that. You were really emotional on the court. Sort of curious is what's going through your mind at that point…?

NICK KYRGIOS: It's just more so I guess the amount of work I've put in to get back, and just to know… There are glimpses of some really good tennis that I can still play.

I guess this process has been probably one of the biggest challenges I've faced in my life. Reality, it's not too bad, but for my tennis career, it's by far the biggest.

Yeah, just the amount of work that goes in when I go back home or when I'm not playing, it's not fun. I know that I can't really be doing any more to try and get back and play…

That's I guess why I got a bit emotional towards the end because it's one of my favorite tournaments… I love it here. I've had so many good memories here. It's one of the best tournaments we have.

After Australian Open, all I did was rehab, train, and then try and get ready for this tournament. I was two days out of the tournament here and I was having a great training session, and literally the second-to-last point in my training session I hit a forehand, I felt a sharp pain, and I had to stop playing.

I mean, it's not ideal, but I guess, I don't know… We go back to the drawing board as a team, and we just try and figure out and navigate a way to just get through these matches.

The Aussie’s grueling journey with health woes dates back to 2023, when he underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery that January for a lateral meniscus tear. He was supposed to be back by the French Open, but later suffered a foot injury during an armed robbery to his home that sidelined him again. Then, as Kygrios prepared for Wimbledon, the 2022 finalist suffered a torn ligament on his wrist that had him out for the rest of the season.

The injury ultimately required what Kyrgios called a “full wrist reconstruction” surgery, and he took all of the 2024 season to rest and recover.

>>> Read More: Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Wimbledon with wrist injury

“It would be nice if someone had this injury prior if I could just go there and ask them, 'Okay, these are setbacks you were having?' Like, it's all an experiment at this point,” Kyrgios said of the uniquely challenging nature of the injury.

“I was told I was arguably maybe not ever playing tennis again. I feel I'm like right there, I feel like I can compete.”

Kyrgios is now 0-3 on the season, after also bowing out in the opening round on home soil in Brisbane and the Australian Open. Kyrgios is next scheduled to compete at the Miami Open, which starts on March 19. He called the quick turnaround “not ideal” as he opts to wait and “see how my wrist responds.”

Van de Zandschulp will face Novak Djokovic in the second round on Saturday.