Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Australian Open with knee injury

PRESS CONFERENCE: Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Australian Open

After reaching his first Grand Slam final last summer at Wimbledon, and following it up with a US Open quarterfinal run, expectations for Nick Kyrgios have been raised, and his appearance at his home major was greatly anticipated. But less than five hours into the 2023 Australian Open, the immensely talented yet polarizing Aussie's tournament is over, as the 27-year-old from Canberra withdrew with a knee injury.

The injury will require arthroscopic knee surgery, with an estimated recovery time of 3-4 weeks.

“(This is) one of the most important tournaments of my career. Hasn’t been easy at all,” Kyrgios said of the withdrawal. “I’m obviously extremely disappointed.”

Kyrgios competed in an exhibition match with Novak Djokovic in Melbourne Park last week, but under Fast4 rules; the deciding tiebreaker was played alongside wheelchair athletes and juniors. Above all, he used the exo as a test of his fitness. The Aussie hasn't played a serious, tour-level singles match since last October, at the Tokyo Open. He would withdraw from that tournament after two match wins; since then, Kyrgios has only competed in doubles, at the ATP Finals.

Kyrgios was also to have defended the doubles title in Melbourne, alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Coming into the tournament, Kyrgios was listed at +1600 to win the title, with Novak, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas the only players having better odds. Last season, he had a hold percentage of 92.9; it was the second time in three years that he topped 92.5%.

We will continue to update this developing story.