During a press conference on Thursday night, Nick Kyrgios shared his frustration following his early exit from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. He was forced to retire from his first-round match against Botic Van De Zandschulp due to a wrist injury, leaving him uncertain about his future moves in the sport.
The game saw Kyrgios trailing at 7-6 (7), 3-0 when the wrist pain, an issue that has plagued him for much of the last two seasons, became unbearable. He opened up to reporters saying, “It’s like I’m running an experiment. At one point, I was told I might never play again. But I feel competitive, like I’m right there on the edge.”
He acknowledged the prowess of Van De Zandschulp, who had earlier defeated Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets at the 2024 US Open. Kyrgios added, “I had set points in the first set against him. I’m in the fight, but if I can’t close out matches, it’s all for nothing. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s next. Right now, the pain is significant. We’ll have to wait and see.”
For the 29-year-old Australian, 2023 saw only one match appearance, and injuries kept him off the court entirely in 2024. His comeback attempt commenced in Brisbane this January, but he has yet to secure a singles victory in three tournaments, including the Australian Open.
Competing at Indian Wells under a protected ranking, Kyrgios disclosed that he aggravated his wrist during a training session on Tuesday. Despite a sharp pain while hitting a forehand, he was eager to participate, expressing his love for the tournament.
Kyrgios initially stumbled to a 4-1 deficit in the opening set. However, he rallied brilliantly in front of an enthusiastic Stadium 1 crowd, pushing the set to a tiebreak with flashes of his trademark skill and flair. Nevertheless, the pain intensified, leading to a touching moment where he appeared near tears during a medical timeout before retiring from the match.
Regarded as one of the tour’s most gifted players, Kyrgios, despite reaching a career-high ranking of No. 13, seven ATP titles, and a 2022 Wimbledon final, often hasn’t met his potential. He reflected on his longstanding ambivalence towards tennis but admitted the surgeries and setbacks had rekindled his desire to play.
“I really want to be out there competing,” he conveyed. “After my surgery 18 months ago, I didn’t have to go through rehab. I didn’t have to push myself to come back if I didn’t want it. But I do. I was aware I’d be uncomfortable tonight after what happened, yet I wanted to play.”
He expressed immense disappointment about not finishing the match yet was grateful for the opportunity he had to play on Thursday.
Originally, Kyrgios intended to compete next in Miami, starting March 19, though now, that’s up in the air. “The timing for Miami isn’t great, but that’s the plan. I’ll see how the wrist heals. If not Miami, I’ll keep focusing on future possibilities. Dwelling on setbacks won’t get me anywhere,” he concluded.
