Nick Kyrgios Withdraws from Wimbledon Due to Wrist Injury, Faces Criticism for Last-Minute Decision

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has made headlines with his last-minute withdrawal from the Wimbledon tournament. Kyrgios, who reached the final against Novak Djokovic last year, had to withdraw from the 2023 edition due to a wrist injury. In an Instagram post, he expressed his sadness and explained that a scan had revealed a torn ligament in his wrist, leaving him with insufficient time to recover before Wimbledon. Kyrgios’ spot in the draw was taken by “lucky loser” Fabian Marozsan, but his decision to withdraw late has drawn criticism from some quarters.

Popular commentator Chris Goldsmith, also known as The Tennis Talker, voiced his disapproval on social media, stating that Kyrgios lacked integrity and accused him of “messing about.” Goldsmith even went as far as saying that Kyrgios should not return to Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Kyrgios’ replacement, David Goffin, won his match against Marozsan and shared his surprise at the news of Kyrgios’ withdrawal.

Kyrgios’ Wimbledon journey last year captivated fans as he made it to his first-ever grand slam final. However, his hopes since then have been overshadowed by a series of injuries. After a seven-month absence due to a knee injury, he returned to the court in Stuttgart, only to be defeated in the first round. Kyrgios asked for patience from his fans on Twitter, acknowledging that he is in the process of regaining full fitness.

With Kyrgios absent, Alex de Minaur becomes Australia’s top-seeded player at Wimbledon. However, he faces a tough draw, including potential matches against Alexander Zverev and top seed Carlos Alcaraz. Despite de Minaur’s recent good form on grass, his loss to Alcaraz in the Queens’ Club final raises doubts about the chances of an Australian making it to the second week at Wimbledon.