Nick Kyrgios comeback disrupted again after doubles withdrawal in Stuttgart

Nick Kyrgios’ doubles return alongside Alexander Bublik in Stuttgart Open came to an abrupt end after the pair withdrew ahead of their quarter-final, closing what had been one of the most closely watched storylines of the ATP 250 event.

The duo had been set to face doubles specialists Daniil Glinka and Stefanos Sakellaridis later in the day. They had already advanced through the first round with a straight-sets win, but this time opted to withdraw from the tournament, allowing their opponents to progress directly into the semifinals.

The withdrawal came shortly after Bublik secured his place in the singles semifinals with a straight-sets win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a physically demanding match featuring two tiebreaks and more than 30 aces combined in 1 hour and 29 minutes of play. Bublik’s 7-6(5), 7-6(3) victory extended his run to a fourth semifinal of the season and set up a high-stakes clash against defending champion Taylor Fritz.

It is still unclear whether Kyrgios was dealing with any physical issue or whether the decision was simply precautionary from Bublik to preserve his fitness. What is clear is that Kyrgios’ Stuttgart campaign has come to an end. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist is expected to return to action next week at the Halle Open, where he has also received a wildcard.

Bublik’s progress in Stuttgart has been defined by efficiency in tight moments, with his win over Mpetshi Perricard decided entirely by serve dominance and tiebreak execution. Neither player faced a break point, highlighting the fine margins of the match.

The Kazakh, seeded third in Stuttgart and currently ranked world No. 11, received a bye in the first round before defeating Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening match in three sets (7-6, 3-6, 6-2). He then followed it with the straight-sets win over Mpetshi Perricard to secure his place in the semifinals.

It marks the fourth time this season that Bublik has reached a semifinal, following his title run in Hong Kong earlier in the year. He has also fallen at the semifinal stage in Rotterdam and Geneva, and now targets another final on a surface that has historically suited his game.

It is therefore unsurprising that Bublik opted to prioritise his singles run, having previously acknowledged that doubles is not a central part of his schedule. This becomes even more relevant as he edges closer to a potential return to the top 10, with a significant points defence coming up in Halle next week.

Bublik will now face Taylor Fritz in the semifinals. The American survived a difficult test against Bellucci and enters as the defending champion, although he is still searching for consistency following months affected by injury. The head-to-head currently stands 4-3 in favour of Bublik.

For Kyrgios, the withdrawal removes another competitive checkpoint in what was intended as a controlled return to grass-court competition. His partnership with Bublik had attracted attention due to its combination of high profile and low-pressure dynamics, bringing together two of the tour’s most expressive playing styles.

The exit means Kyrgios leaves Stuttgart without completing a doubles quarter-final appearance, interrupting the rhythm-building process typically associated with early comeback stages. His singles return earlier in the week had already been framed as an initial test rather than a full competitive reset.

While no specific injury has been confirmed in relation to the withdrawal, the timing reinforces the delicate balance surrounding his workload management during the grass-court swing. At present, his only confirmed appearance is at Halle in the coming days, while there is still no confirmation regarding a potential doubles entry at Wimbledon, which would require a wildcard given his limited ranking after nearly a year away from competition.