Nick Kyrgios, the mercurial and talented tennis player from Australia, is facing a year of unprecedented crisis. Along with fellow players like Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu, the maverick star has been a notable absence from many top events throughout 2023.
As with the case of his injury-hampered comrades, Nick has faced the plaguing issue of losing out on seedings in forthcoming events due to his absence. As his recovery from injury and possible comeback are gaining momentum, a shock consequence from his withdrawals has left Nick in a spot of bother.
Nick Kyrgios exits ATP rankings for the first time
After a Wimbledon finals appearance in 2022 and a return to the top-20, Nick Kyrgios suffered a devastating knee injury in the offseason that required surgery for correction. The following months saw him moving back and forth in terms of withdrawals and possible appearances from major ATP tournaments. In the end, after a premature return and sustaining a second wrist injury, his afflictions prevailed and Nick has played only one match through the current season.
An expected consequence of his problems was that he would drop down the ATP rankings table, but after his withdrawal from the Tokyo Open, where he failed to defend his quarterfinals points from 2022, Nick Kyrgios dropped out entirely off the latest ATP rankings.
This latest news comes as a shock to worldwide fans of Nick, who already had grown frustrated with his no-show at grand slams. After his Wimbledon withdrawal, many expected him to keep up his word and appear at the US Open. However, when even that expectation proved futile, Nick Kyrgios had to personally send out a statement to his supporters.
“To my millions of fans out there, I guess we just have to be patient. Trust me, I still have some fire left in the tank. I’m still as motivated as ever, in the gym, treatment, recovery. Everything off court is doing great.”, he said.
This month, Nick Kyrgios provided an update on his status.
“I am just trying to be able to get back as soon as possible because I do miss playing and especially being so close to winning [Wimbledon] last year, I know I’m right there,” he said.
Djokovic clinched 2022 Wimbledon title with four-set victory over Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios had the season of his life in 2022. A mundane start to the year saw him enter Wimbledon as not one of the favourites, and he further justified that expectation when he had to scrape through to a five-set victory over wildcard Paul Jubb in the first round, a match where he was fined US$10,000 for verbally abusing a line judge and spitting in the direction of a spectator.
However, it was his third-round victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas that spurred him on to greater successes in the tournament, as he marched to the finals, where number-one seed Novak Djokovic was waiting for him.
The match was epic, with Kyrgios starting ferociously off the blocks and claiming the first set. However, it was Novak who showed his experience and class and reigned supreme 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in over three hours.
“Myself, my team are all exhausted. Im really happy with the result, it is the best of my career.”, Nick said later.
What are your opinions on the latest update on the ATP rankings? WIll Nick Kyrgios bounce back to an effective return? Let us know in the comments section below.
