Nick Kyrgios has formally dominated himself out from enjoying the 2024 Australian Open, however the controversial tennis star will probably be there in a special type – as a commentator.
The 28-year-old crowdpleaser and 2022 Wimbledon finalist was lacking from the event’s entry listing on Wednesday evening, however Australian Open boss Craig Tiley hinted the Canberra-born wild little one can be on the occasion in “some form”.
Now Kyrgios, who obtained a combined response to his commentary debut on the Tennis Channel final month, has used his new OnlyFans platform to get the shock information of his withdrawal out to his followers.
“I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open,” Kyrgios stated in a video. “But even though I won’t be there competing this year at the AO, I still will be around, commentating matches. I’ve got some special things planned, so please be excited.”
The 28-year-old former world No 13, who introduced on Friday he had joined the OnlyFans on-line subscription service with a free content material account, used the controversial creator platform to make the announcement which is able to additional polarise tennis followers, a lot of whom see him as a wasted once-in-a-generation expertise.
Kyrgios, who received the Australian Open doubles title alongside good pal Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2022, has barely been on courtroom since October 2022 as he battles varied accidents. As of September 11 this yr, his ATP rating had slipped to No 192.
The 28-year-old began 2023 by sitting out the Australian Open due to an injured left knee that required arthroscopic surgical procedure. He went on to overlook all 4 ATP majors in a irritating season in which he performed only one match – a 7-5 6-3 defeat in 68 minutes by China’s Yibing Wu in the primary spherical at Stuttgart again in June.
Kyrgios’s last-minute withdrawal from Wimbledon that very same month drew widespread criticism. Having reached the 2022 last towards Novak Djokovic in a career-best grand slam consequence, Kyrgios pulled the pin on the 2023 event the day earlier than his first spherical match towards Belgian David Goffin, citing a wrist harm.
Now comes information his begin to 2024 can also be being delayed on account of harm.
Kyrgios informed followers he had “had a really tough year with injury… that knee surgery and came back a little too soon (which) set me back a little bit, obviously had some wrist issues. So this is a very disappointing time for me.”
He stated the choice to withdraw from the 2024 Australian Open was “heartbreaking”.
“I’ve had so many amazing memories there and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right and I need a little more time,” Kyrgios stated. “I was so close to winning a grand slam, I want to make sure that my body is going to have the time it needs to come back so please bear with me.”
Having not performed in six months, Kyrgios’ possibilities of returning on the Australian Open have been all the time a long-shot. However, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic, Denis Shapovalov, Soonwoo Koon, Jiri Vesely, Milos Raonic and Reilly Opelka all locked themselves into the event utilizing protected rankings this week regardless of all battling niggles.
“The update is day-by-day with him,” Australian Open boss Tiley stated about Kyrgios. “He’ll be best to assess that … we’re going to have Nick here in some form or another in January.”
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