Nick Kyrgios skips Cincinnati, US Open in doubt as tennis’ wildcard sits out

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of yet another major tournament, casting fresh doubt over his long-awaited return to tennis and sparking serious questions about whether he will be ready to take the court at Flushing Meadows later this month.

The 30-year-old Aussie firebrand was due to compete at the Cincinnati Open next week using a protected ranking. But instead of lacing up for another go at the Masters 1000 event, where he was a finalist in 2017, Kyrgios has withdrawn, choosing once again to prioritise his body over the tour.

It is a decision that may disappoint fans but certainly will not surprise them. The enigmatic former world number 13 has not played a singles match since March, when he made a brief, and mildly successful, cameo at the Miami Open, scoring his first win since 2022 in 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Mackenzie McDonald.

Before that? A laundry list of injuries, setbacks, and withdrawals. Kyrgios has been open about his struggles with a recurring knee issue, one that derailed his comeback earlier this year and forced him to skip Wimbledon, a tournament he once nearly won, reaching the final in 2022.

In June, he cited a "small setback" in his rehab process and said he would not be rushing back. With Cincinnati now off the table and just weeks remaining before the US Open begins, fans are wondering if they will see any Kyrgios antics in New York this year.

The Kyrgios withdrawal adds to a growing list of high-profile exits from Cincinnati, a Masters 1000 event now looking noticeably thinner at the top. Chief among the dropouts is three-time champion Novak Djokovic, who confirmed he will skip the tune-up event and head into the US Open without a competitive match since his Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner.

Also joining the absentee list is Wimbledon standout Grigor Dimitrov, who has been replaced in the draw by Czech player Vít Kopriva. Jack Draper pulled out as well, with American Aleksandar Kovacevic taking his place. Jenson Brooksby was replaced by Croatia’s Borna Coric, while Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz made way for Australian Christopher O’Connell.

The trend continues with Matteo Berrettini’s spot being filled by China’s Shang Juncheng, and Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik bowing out in favour of Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien. Laslo Djere was replaced by France’s Hugo Gaston, and Sebastian Korda’s withdrawal opened a spot for Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.

As previously aforementioned, Djokovic’s withdrawal spot went to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, while Kyrgios’ own position will be taken over by rising American Ethan Quinn. It is a list that reads more like a VIP lounge than a withdrawal sheet, and Cincinnati’s loss may very well be a wildcard’s gain.

Kyrgios’ absence, however, stings the most. Even when not winning, he is one of the game’s biggest box office draws. With his blistering serve, electric shot-making, and unapologetic swagger, he brings something few others can: drama.

Whether it is a jaw-dropping tweener, a meltdown mid-match, or a baffling underarm ace, a Kyrgios match is never just a match. The last glimpse fans got of him on court was not in singles, but in doubles, teaming up with longtime friend and showman Gael Monfils at the DC Open in Washington. The pair, known more for flair than form, fell in the round of 16 to Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Hugo Nys, 6-2, 6-2. It was a brief, if entertaining, cameo, and hardly the kind of prep Kyrgios needs for a Grand Slam return.

Despite this, Kyrgios is not entirely disappearing from the sport just yet. He was set to team up with Naomi Osaka in the US Open mixed doubles draw, a pairing that has already stirred excitement across the tennis world.

For now, all fans can do is wait and watch, hoping that tennis’ most unpredictable showman still has another act left in him.