Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was overcome with emotion after being forced to withdraw from the Indian Wells tournament due to injury.
The 29-year-old was down 7-6, 3-0 against Botic van de Zandschulp when he requested a medical timeout.
He became visibly upset, wiping away tears as he consulted with his trainer and a physiotherapist.
Kyrgios cited wrist pain and subsequently retired from the match.
He later confessed, “This recovery process has been one of the most significant challenges of my life. While it might not seem severe to others, for my tennis career, it’s been the biggest obstacle.”
“The amount of effort I put in when I return home or during periods away from competition is immense and not enjoyable. I feel I’m doing everything possible to get back on the court and play.”
“I suppose my emotional reaction at the end stems from the sheer volume of work I’ve invested, only to still experience considerable wrist discomfort. Indian Wells is also one of my favorite tournaments, which adds to the disappointment.”
When questioned about his future in tennis, Kyrgios responded, “At this point, it’s all experimental.”
“I was even told that there was a possibility I might never play tennis again. However, I feel like I’m on the verge of returning. I believe I can compete.”
“I’m almost there, but if I can’t complete matches, then it’s ultimately meaningless.”
“I’m currently uncertain. I’m unsure how my wrist will feel even tomorrow.”
“My desire is to be out there competing. If I truly didn’t want to play, I wouldn’t have gone through the rehab process and tried so hard to get back on the court. I want to play.”
Kyrgios, who claimed the junior Wimbledon title in 2013 and reached the final in 2022, has now suffered defeats in all three matches he has played this year.
He previously experienced a defeat to Jacob Fearnley at the Australian Open and another loss to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Brisbane International.
Meanwhile, Van de Zandschulp is scheduled to face Novak Djokovic in the next round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Saturday.
