Nick Kyrgios had a great run in 2022, winning 37 out of 47 matches and playing in his first Major final at Wimbledon. The Aussie finished the year just outside the top-20, hoping for more good results in 2023. However, Nick is yet to play a match in his country at the beginning of the new season after struggling with an ankle injury.
The Aussie made a last-minute withdrawal from the United Cup and skipped the next week’s Adelaide 2 event. Nick’s manager Daniel Horsfall revealed they are working daily to prepare Kyrgios for the home Major. Horsfall is sure about Kyrgios’ participation at the Australian Open, which starts in ten days.
Nick’s United Cup withdrawal surprised everyone, including his teammates and the captain. Lleyton Hewitt said he had been unaware of Kyrgios’s withdrawal until his announcement and expressed frustration over his lack of communication, as many times before.
Nick faced world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the last year’s Australian Open second round. Daniil scored a 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 triumph in two hours and 58 minutes to pass a challenging obstacle and move into the third round. Nick gave his best to follow the better-ranked rival’s pace in the opening three sets at Rod Laver Arena.
He fought well for two and a half hours before Medvedev crumbled his resistance in the fourth to avoid a decider. Daniil fired 31 aces and had the upper hand on the first and second serve.
Nick Kyrgios is yet to play a match in 2023.
The Russian defended seven out of nine break chances and secured four breaks from 11 opportunities to seal the deal and remain on the title course.
Medvedev had the advantage in the shortest rallies up to four strokes and controlled the more extended exchanges to cross the finish line first. Kyrgios bounced back at Wimbledon and reached his first Major final following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal.
Nick faced Novak Djokovic in the title clash and won the opening set before the Serb turned the tables and scored a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 triumph. “We are very excited and working daily to make sure to get ready for the Australian Open.
Many people were upset after he pulled out of the United Cup, but I hope they now realize the injury is genuine. I wish more people would ask questions before putting in their two cents,” Daniel Horsfall said.
