Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Australian Open with a knee injury, a day before he was to play his first round match. Kyrgios was runner-up in singles at Wimbledon last year and men’s doubles champion at the Australian Open and is considered the host nation’s strongest chance to win the title at Melbourne Park this year.
Kyrgios announced his return on Monday on the first day of action at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. He spoke at a press conference in Melbourne Park accompanied by his physiotherapist.
Kyrgios is seeded 19th in Melbourne And was scheduled to face Roman Safiullin in the first round on Tuesday. “I’m just tired of everything. Obviously very cruel,” Kyrgios said of the decision to sit out. “One of the most important tournaments of my career. It hasn’t been easy at all.”
Nick Kyrgios will miss his home Grand Slam.
Get well soon, Nick! pic.twitter.com/1G8EUHxcS0– US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 16, 2023
3 American, Emma Reducanu in second round
Americans Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins advanced to the second round in contrasting fashion at the Australian Open on Monday (Jan 16). Third seed Pegula beat Romania’s Jacqueline Christian 6-0, 6-1 while seventh seed Gauff beat Katerina Siniakova 6-1, 6-4 in the second set.
Last year’s runner-up to Ash Barty and 13th seed Collins was battling a left knee injury before defeating Anna Kalinskaya 7-5, 5-7, 6-4. Pegula and Gauff could meet in the semifinals while Collins could play No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.
A quarterfinalist in Melbourne the past two years, Pegula needed just 59 minutes to overcome 161st-ranked Christian, who was appearing in his third Grand Slam event. “Today is one of those days when everything worked out,” said the American, who will play either Czech qualifiers Brenda Fruhvirtova or Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round.
“It always feels good when you win a match like this. I think when those days come you just take it and don’t complain and don’t criticize. You just move on to the next one.
Gauff, who reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the French Open last year, was given the honor of opening proceedings at Rod Laver Arena and dominated Siniakova in the first set. The Czech led 4-2 in the second set but Gauff won on the seventh match point.
“I wasn’t expecting Rod Laver to open the tournament,” Gauff said. “I’m so honored that the tournament chose me and Katerina. I’m really pleased with myself. Katerina is a fighter, I knew she was going to fight for every point. I just mentally Stay strong.”
Gauff will next face former US Open champion Ema Raducanu after the Briton overcame a left ankle problem with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch. Collins required a medical timeout for a left knee problem early in the first set of her match with Klinskaya, but survived to win in just over three hours.
Another former US Open champion, Bianca Andreescu, advanced to the second round, but 28th seed Amanda Anisimova was defeated by Marta Kostyuk 6–3, 6–4.
(With PTI inputs)