Stay
Nick Kyrgios’ return to motion after seven months out with a knee damage has ended with a worrying defeat, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist combating mobility and struggling ache.
The Australian was overwhelmed 7-5 6-3 by China’s Yibing Wu within the first spherical in Stuttgart, the match lasting simply 68 minutes.
Whereas his serve was firing nicely, regardless of 4 double-faults, Kyrgios appeared reluctant to chase balls across the courtroom and by the top was visibly troubled by his knee.
Throughout the changeover after the third sport of the second set Kyrgios may very well be overheard saying to his workforce, “I really feel my knee each level. I can’t stroll with out ache”, earlier than placing his head in his fingers.
The world No.25 soldiered on, and didn’t name for the coach, however continued to look troubled and hobbled off after the match.
“Be affected person with me my followers please,” Kyrgios tweeted after Tuesday’s match.
“It’s a course of to get again to the place I used to be. I do know it’s arduous so that you can see me carry out like as we speak, however I want extra time and hopefully can get again to the place I used to be.”
Ranked 64 on the earth, Wu was not a simple draw for the eighth seed, regardless of it being the Chinese language participant’s first senior match on grass.
His final aggressive outing on the floor got here within the juniors in 2017.
Kyrgios started nicely, displaying his trademark aptitude and serving powerfully. At 5-5 he compelled a break level however Wu saved with an ace.
The Australian, who had begun to look uncomfortable halfway via the set, appeared to make little effort to regain the benefit as his opponent held.
Serving to remain within the set, Kyrgios aced twice but additionally double-faulted twice as he was damaged.
The second set went with serve to 3-4 however Kyrgios, a two-time semi-finalist in Stuttgart, was then damaged to like, misjudging the game-winning level which he let go just for it to land contained in the baseline.
Wu served out to like to finish victory.
It was Kyrgios’ first tour-level singles match since October – although he made a big-money exhibition look in Saudi Arabia in December.
That was adopted by surgical procedure on a meniscus tear on his left knee – “fairly a severe surgical procedure”, he stated earlier than this match.
With Wimbledon looming subsequent month Kyrgios, a finalist final 12 months, was eager to get grasscourt follow however his precedence now will probably be assessing his health.
Additionally within the Stuttgart Open, Australia’s Chris O’Connell beat Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-3 6-1 to ebook a second-round tie with Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
Qualifer Marton Fucsovics beat Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 6-4 whereas there have been additionally wins for Gregoire Barrere, Aslan Karatsev, Tommy Paul and Jan-Lennard Struff.
On the ‘s-Hertogenbosch ATP 250 match within the Netherlands, Alexei Popyrin defeated Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (8-6) and Jordan Thompson beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
– AAP