(Video) Nick Kyrgios breaks down in tears after wrist injury forces him to retire from Indian Wells

Former World No. 13 Nick Kyrgios has lost three first-round singles matches on the trot this year due to his injury on his right wrist.

(Video) Nick Kyrgios breaks down in tears after wrist injury forces him to retire from Indian Wells

Nick Kyrgios got emotional after mid-match retirement at Indian Wells (Image via Screengrab X)

Nick Kyrgios had suffered discomfort on his wrist during the practice session ahead of Indian Wells. Instead of withdrawing, he chose to play on Thursday, but to his disappointment, he couldn’t complete the match.

He was up against Botic Van de Zandschulp in the first round. As expected from Kyrgios, he didn’t give up easily and the first set was pushed to the tie-breaker. The Dutchman won the set and capitalized on his lead, winning three consecutive games in the second set.

YouTube video

Kyrgios took a medical timeout and threw in the towel as the match ended with scores of 7-6(7), 3-0. It was again his right wrist that troubled him and forced him to retire. A dejected Kyrgios was seen sitting on the bench and wiping away his tears before the customary handshake with his opponent.

FS Video

Watch the video here:

It was Kyrgios’ sixth Indian Wells appearance. Kyrgios, who was aiming for his first ATP title since the 2022 Japan Open, has now lost three singles matches on the trot since his return to tennis at the Brisbane International this year following multiple surgeries.

Nick Kyrgios says he still enjoys competing

When Nick Kyrgios had surgery 18 months ago, he had hoped to make his comeback one day. He did rehab for months and trained harder to get back.

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios (Image via ATP/X)

Kyrgios was confident that the wrist injury won’t concern him much but he was wrong. In his first singles match this year in Brisbane against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, although he did impress the fans with his game, he admitted that he needed a miracle to play at the Australian Open because the struggle against the wrist injury didn’t end.

In Melbourne, Kyrgios once again gave his all against Jacob Fearnley to reach the second round but suffered a first-round exit. He was uncertain about his next tournament but as he loves playing in the California desert, Kyrgios signed up for the ATP 1000 Masters tournament.

Yeah, I’ve never been a player to play all year round, but when I do play, it’s usually the best tournament in the world. It’s the Grand Slams, it’s the Masters events, it’s the best 500s. I do enjoy playing.

Nick Kyrgios said at the press conference

Had he won, he would have scheduled a second-round match against five-time Indian Wells champion and his friend Novak Djokovic. The 29-year-old had played doubles with the 24-time Grand Slam champion in Brisbane, but the pair were defeated in the second round.