Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Ultimate Tennis Showdown due to fitness

Australia’s tennis star Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown due to a fitness concern. The 29-year-old has struggled with fitness issues in recent years and missed action for nearly two years.

Kyrgios recently returned to the court and participated in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in New York. However, he was forced to retire because of feeling a bit of discomfort. He was due to face France’s Gael Monfils in the competition's semifinal.

While announcing his decision to withdraw from the mega-event, former world number 10 said he wanted to thank the crowd for supporting him throughout the event and also explained that he felt stiff wrist when he woke up for the match.

“I loved being back on court, and there was no better place to start my return than at the UTS in New York,” he said. “It felt great to play in a competitive atmosphere again, and feel the love from the UTS fans! Unfortunately, I woke up with a stiff wrist and I have to follow advice from my physio, I’m at the later stages of my rehab and have to take it slow to make sure I don’t have any set backs. I am so close to a return on the tour! That’s why I can’t compete against Gael today and need to withdraw from the tournament. I want to thank Patrick for allowing UTS to be a big part of my Journey, and to the fans, thank you for all the support it goes a long way! I will be back.”

Kyrgios was injured during the US Open in 2022. That injury could not have come at a wrong time, as just months before, he played in the final of his first and, until now, only Grand Slam at Wimbledon, where he lost to Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic. Because of fitness concerns, he has now missed eight consecutive Grand Slams.