The manager of Nick Kyrgios is confident the tennis star will be fit in time for the Australian Open despite pulling out of his second tournament of the season.
Daniel Horsfall describes Kyrgios’ current injury as ‘genuine’ in a swipe at some who had questioned the reason for his withdrawal from the United Cup. The Wimbledon finalist pulled out of the team events just minutes before his country was set to conduct their pre-tournament press conference. On Wednesday he also withdrew from next week’s second Adelaide tournament which takes place just a week before the first Grand Slam of the season.
Kyrgios is currently nursing an ankle injury which he sustained whilst playing an exhibition match during the off-season in the Middle East. Despite the setback, he has been seen hitting the practice courts by local journalists in Melbourne.
“We are very excited and working every day to make sure we’re ready for the Australian Open,” Horsfall told Australian media.
“A lot of people were upset after he pulled out of the United Cup, but I hope they now realise the injury is genuine.
“I wish more people would ask questions before putting in their two cents.”
Horsfall later added that there is ‘no doubt’ that Kyrgios will be playing in the first Grand Slam of 2023 despite his ankle setback.
All eyes will be on the world No.22 at Melbourne Park to see if he can repeat his stunning run at Wimbledon where he took a set off Novak Djokovic in the final before losing in four. He has only reached the quarter-final stage at the Australian Open once before which was back in 2015. Last year he lost in the second round to Daniil Medvedev.
Kyrgios will also be playing in the doubles tournament alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis where the duo will be seeking to win the title for the second year running. In 2022 they also won titles in Washington and Atlanta before ending their season at the ATP Finals in Turin.
“We’ll be playing [at the Australian Open]. Doubles is a lot less taxing on the body and mentally it’s a bit easier as well,” Kokkinakis confirmed earlier this week.
The Australian Open will begin on January 16th.
