World no. 19 Nick Kyrgios is yet to play a match this year. The Aussie has been struggling with a knee injury for months, skipping the last season’s final part and missing the United Cup and the Australian Open. Nick underwent surgery, but we will not see him on the court until at least April.
Kyrgios withdrew from Indian Wells, needing more time to recover and start training again. Nick underwent an arthroscopic procedure to clean up his lateral meniscus and remove a paralabral cyst. 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 once he returns to action. Nick did not have luck with the draw at the last year’s Australian Open. The home favorite faced world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the second round and experienced a 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss in just under three hours.
Kyrgios took a break until Indian Wells and played well in the desert.
Nick Kyrgios withdrew from Indian Wells.
He defeated Casper Ruud and received a walkover from Jannik Sinner to set the quarter-final clash against Rafael Nadal.
Nick pushed Rafa to the limits in a 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 defeat in two hours and 46 minutes. Rafa took only two points more than Nick and lost serve twice. The Spaniard grabbed two breaks and prevailed in the crucial moments to advance into his 76th Masters 1000 semi-final and remain perfect in 2022.
Kyrgios made a better start and earned a break in the encounter’s third game after Nadal’s double fault. Nick fired an ace to open a 4-2 gap and cracked a forehand down the line winner in game eight to remain in front. Nadal earned his first break chance in the last moment at 4-5 and seized it after the rival’s loose forehand to extend the battle.
Losing ground after being so close, Nick lost the tie break 7-0 after a code violation and a point penalty. The Aussie kept his composure during the rest of the clash, serving well in set number two and keeping the pressure on the other side.
Rafa delivered five fine holds and looked good to introduce the second tie break at 5-6. Instead, Kyrgios broke him at 15 with a behind-the-back backhand volley winner, taking the set 7-5 and forcing a decider in just under two hours.
Nadal saved two break points in the final set’s second game to end his downfall and gain a necessary boost. Kyrgios survived the fifth game before hitting a costly double fault at 3-3 to fall behind. Nadal held at love with a forehand winner in game eight for 5-3 and emerged at the top with a smash winner in game ten.
The Aussie played consistent tennis for the rest of the season, reaching a couple of semi-finals before embracing his first Major final at Wimbledon. He lost it to Novak Djokovic in four sets following a valiant effort and claimed the ATP 500 title in Washington.
Nick was the US Open quarter-finalist, falling to Karen Khachanov in five sets and playing only one tournament after that due to knee issues.
