(London) Australian Nick Kyrgios, injured in a wrist, announced Sunday evening that he would not play the Wimbledon tournament, where he reached the final last year.
“I’m really sad to have to give up Wimbledon this year,” wrote the 33rd player in the world in a story posted on Instagram on the eve of the first day of the British Major.
The 28-year-old says he suffered wrist pain last week in Mallorca, where he was preparing for his return to the pitch. A CT scan revealed a torn ligament.
“I tried everything to be able to play, and I’m disappointed to say that I didn’t have enough time to deal with it before Wimbledon,” he added.
The Australian, who lost last year in the final to Novak Djokovic, was due to play his first-round match on Monday against Belgium’s David Goffin. He will be replaced in the table by a player drafted from the qualifications.
Operated on his left knee in January, Kyrgios has only played one game this season, last month in Stuttgart, where he was beaten in the first round by China’s Wu Yibing.
Registered last week for the Majorca grass tournament, one of the preparation events for the Wimbledon meeting, he had opted for caution by withdrawing from the table on the eve of the start of the event.
He had also given up the Halle tournament the previous week.
“During my return, I felt pain in my wrist during the Mallorca week. As a precaution, I had a scan which revealed a torn ligament,” he explains on his Instagram account.
During a press conference given earlier in London, Kyrgios had not mentioned this injury, but had testified to a state of mind that was hardly focused on optimism. “I didn’t miss tennis, I was almost dreading coming back, but it’s my job,” he said.
“Last year I felt like everything fell into place for me. Wimbledon final. I barely lost any matches, but obviously my body needed a rest.”
“I’ll be back,” he tweeted Sunday night.
“And as always, I appreciate the support of all my supporters”, continues the player with a volcanic temperament, who confessed to having had suicidal thoughts during his career which led him to a psychiatric hospital