Despite a triumphant return to the court with his first victory in over two years, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is contemplating an early exit from the Miami Open. His hard-fought win against qualifier Mackenzie McDonald, which saw him bounce back from a set down to triumph 3-6 6-3 6-4, was overshadowed by concerns about the state of his wrist.
Kyrgios, who once held the world No. 13 spot, had been battling with knee and wrist injuries for two years and even questioned at one point whether he would ever play professional tennis again. His recent win, therefore, brought a much-needed morale boost. However, he remains cognizant of his physical condition, particularly the state of his wrist, and is not ruling out an early departure from the tournament.
The Australian tennis sensation has had a rocky road since his return to the game in January following his two-year hiatus. He suffered first-round eliminations at both the Brisbane International and the Australian Open. His next match wasn’t until this month at Indian Wells, where he retired due to injury while lagging behind Botic van de Zandschulp.
The 29-year-old managed to recover in time for the Miami Open and secured his first victory since October 2022. He is slated to face off against Karen Khachanov next, a repeat of their US Open quarter-final clash from two-and-a-half years ago, which Khachanov won.
Despite his recent win, Kyrgios could not hide his concerns about the condition of his wrist. He expressed doubts about his ability to continue participating in the tournament after the grueling three-set match. He confessed to having thought he might never play tennis again and admitted to having serious discussions about his future in the sport with his team.
Kyrgios’ concerns about his wrist are not unwarranted. In September 2023, he underwent significant wrist reconstruction surgery, followed by a lengthy period of rehabilitation and recovery before he could even hit a ball again. Since his return to the game in January, the former Wimbledon finalist has continued to experience problems with his wrist. During his comeback match in Brisbane, he recalls his wrist “throbbing” and had to abruptly stop an Indian Wells practice session due to wrist pain.
The seven-time title winner has come a long way since his forced retirement in Indian Wells just under two weeks ago. However, the question remains whether this resilient player will be able to continue his Miami Open campaign after his long-awaited victory. With the lingering issues with his wrist, only time will reveal what lies ahead for Nick Kyrgios.
