Nick Kyrgios' return to the Australian Open is in doubt after he pulled out of an exhibition match with an abdominal injury.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up returned to the tour last week in Brisbane, having played just one singles match since October 2022.
The 29-year-old announced his withdrawal on Instagram, saying an ultrasound revealed a grade 1 strain.
He said he would “rest and do everything possible to be fine before the Australian Open” which starts on Sunday.
He lost his opening singles match in Brisbane, beating France's Giovanni Mbeche Pericard in a three-set tiebreak, after which he said he “felt like I was hit by a bus” and reached the second round in doubles, partnering with Novak Djokovic. .
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Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic shared an exhilarating run at the Brisbane International against Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus
“I think I almost need a miracle, I need the stars to line up with my wrists so I can make it to a Grand Slam for sure,” he said after his singles loss.
“For my wrist, it's like new now. It's very painful… We were expecting this. Today is another building block in the journey.”
Australian Open director Craig Tiley expected Kyrgios to play in Melbourne and believed the withdrawal was “precautionary”.
