Nick Kyrgios sensationally withdraws from the Australian Open with a knee injury

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Australian Open with a knee injury just a day before his first-round match against Roman Safiullin.

The 27-year-old was Australia’s biggest shot at a Grand Slam title and originally struggled with an ankle injury that prevented him from playing in any of the warm-up tournaments before play began at Melbourne Park.

A routine MRI, performed after Kyrgios developed discomfort in his knee, revealed he has a tear in his lateral meniscus and a cyst, his physical therapist, Will Maher, explained.

Kyrgios cut a losing figure as he announced he was forced to withdraw from his home Grand Slam: ‘I’m obviously devastated’

The big Australian hope said the injury was not career-threatening and he had no doubt he would make a full recovery

The injury is not serious enough to be career-threatening and has only become an issue in the past two weeks, he said.

The star said he was shattered to be forced to withdraw from his home grand slam, where many saw him as an opportunity to do even better than at Wimbledon, where he lost the final to Novak Djokovic last year.

“Of course I’m devastated,” he said at a news conference shortly after the news broke on Monday afternoon.

“It’s my home tournament and obviously winning the tournament and probably playing the best tennis of my life.

“All I can do is my best to come back… It’s brutal. Obviously a mix of emotions…that’s life. It’s part of the sport.

“I have no doubt that I will find my way back to my full strength.”

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