Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts throughout his first spherical match towards Jacob Fearnley of Britain on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ng Han Guan)
MELBOURNE, Australia — If this was the final Australian Open singles match of Nick Kyrgios’ profession — and, to make certain, it’s laborious to know with him, it doesn’t matter what got here out at his information convention — the big-hitting, big-talking tennis participant went out quite quietly Monday night time.
Certain, Kyrgios delivered the occasional ace and his favourite form of trick pictures, delighting a house crowd as he normally does. However his much-anticipated return to Melbourne Park after two seasons full of accidents and surgical procedures didn’t final lengthy or go notably effectively, and the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up was hampered by a latest stomach pressure whereas dropping 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) to unseeded Jacob Fearnley in beneath 2 1/2 hours.
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Afterward, Kyrgios stated he doubts he ever can be again to compete in singles at his nation’s Grand Slam event, though he does plan to stay within the doubles bracket this yr alongside countryman and good pal Thanasi Kokkinakis. They gained the Australian Open doubles trophy collectively in 2022.
“I imply, realistically, I can’t actually see myself in all probability taking part in singles once more right here,” Kyrgios stated.
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Maybe that was one thing stated purely within the warmth of the second.
It can also’t be straightforward for somebody to simply accept the place his physique is at age 29 after having been on the elite stage of his sport, somebody who has crushed Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, somebody who was a loss to Djokovic away from changing into a Grand Slam champion in singles.
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“It’s laborious,” stated Kyrgios, who famous that he does plan to return to Wimbledon in June. “If you’re competing for the largest tournaments on this planet and also you’re struggling to win units bodily, it’s fairly robust.”
He performed a complete of 1 singles match throughout 2023 and 2024, and had wrist and knee operations.
His most up-to-date main event till now had been the 2022 U.S. Open.
When he got here again to motion shortly earlier than the Australian Open — going 0-1 in singles and partnering Djokovic for 2 doubles matches — Kyrgios harm his stomach muscle.
“I’m one of many greatest servers on tour and I’m getting out-served tonight,” Kyrgios stated. “I imply, Nick Kyrgios with out his serve might be not — I’m not a menace to many gamers.”
It was clear that he wasn’t feeling nice and he was visited by a coach.
Kyrgios stated he didn’t wish to cease taking part in, as a result of he knew followers have been there to see him.
He additionally needed to strive to absorb the environment, in case there isn’t any subsequent time in Melbourne.
“I don’t know what number of occasions I’m going to be again right here once more. That’s why I didn’t have headphones on; I wasn’t listening to music. I walked on the market right now (and) needed to listen to the gang,” Kyrgios stated. “There have been some particular moments.”
In opposition to Fearnley, a 23-year-old from Scotland who performed faculty tennis at TCU in Fort Price, Texas, Kyrgios hit fewer aces, 17-13, and had a slower common first-serve velocity, 192 kph (119 mph) to 185 kph (115 mph).
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“It was actually cool to share the court docket with him. If that’s his final match, I used to be glad I used to be capable of play him earlier than he went out,” Fearnley stated. “I spent quite a lot of time watching him as I used to be in faculty, and even earlier than faculty. He’s clearly a large title, somebody on the court docket I’ve 100% appeared as much as.”
