Nick Kyrgios couldn’t hide his disappointment on Saturday after a third-round exit at The Championships, but the Australian insists he will look to play in more tournaments moving forwards.
“I definitely feel more comfortable getting out there,” said Kyrgios, after he retired due to an abdominal strain at the end of the second set against Felix Auger-Aliassime. “When they embrace you, they embrace your personality, they embrace the way you go about it. Of course, I want to go out there and play.
“When I do play, [fans] definitely tune in. All my matches are packed out. I think that’s the cool thing about it. They’re like, ‘Kyrgios will be playing’ [and] ‘Now he’s playing’. There’s full hype around it.
“I really enjoyed the crowd this week. It felt like I was playing back home in Australia. It was even better. So it was cool.”
The 26-year-old, who has already undergone an MRI scan, will remain in London for a couple more days before heading to The Bahamas for rehabilitation and training.
“[At] 4-1, 15/15, then 4-1, 30/15, on my service game I felt my ab, my lower left abdominal strain,” said Kyrgios, who underwent a medical time-out on Saturday when he led 5-2 in the first set. “It was just getting worse and worse… I did an MRI. I’ve done all the right things. I’ve iced it.
“I sacrificed a lot to be here, to try and play. [I] put myself in a position to do damage. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I was going to be able to play a good level. I actually played better than I thought I was going to play.
“It’s uncomfortable. If I breathe deeply, I can feel it. Obviously if I get in some certain stretches, I can feel it. So I’m not happy with my injury at the moment.”
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Nick Kyrgios, who also reached the Australian Open third round (l. to Thiem) in February, beat French 21st seed Ugo Humbert and Gianluca Mager of Italy at the All England Club this week.
“It’s funny because I woke up today feeling phenomenal,” said Kyrgios. “My hips felt good, my body felt good. I was like, ‘Wow, I’m back, I’m feeling good’. The luck just didn’t go my way.
“I felt today [that] I was playing unbelievable. I came out of the blocks. I was returning lights out. I was actually finding my stride. I’ve never felt more comfortable on the grass honestly. I felt like he was really struggling with the way I was playing. I was making a lot of returns. I was hot. I broke him I think three times in the first set.
“If I got past Felix today, which I looked like in the first set [winning it 6-1], I was playing lights out. I [was] confident going in against [Alexander] Zverev [in the fourth round]. Just so many things that needed to fall into place. I’m just disappointed.”
Kyrgios was partnering American Venus William in the mixed doubles, but barring a miracle will have to pull out of the competition.
”It’s heart-breaking, honestly,” said Kyrgios. “I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. I just got goose bumps thinking the fact I might have to tell Venus Williams I can’t play mixed doubles because of injuries. It’s brutal for me.”
Source Tennis – ATP World Tour
