Nick Kyrgios has declared he can still entertain at the Australian Open despite suffering a new injury scare that forced him to pull out of an exhibition clash on Thursday.
The Aussie’s comeback from career-threatening injuries to his wrist, which is still bothering him, and knee was on track to the extent that Lleyton Hewitt picked him for a drought-breaking Davis Cup appearance.
But Kyrgios’s massive month could be over before it even truly began.
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He shared on Wednesday that he had withdrawn from the following night’s clash with Novak Djokovic after scans revealed a Grade 1 abdominal strain.
“Will be resting and doing everything I can to be OK by the Aus Open,” Kyrgios said.
Before playing in Brisbane last week the 29-year-old had managed just one ATP Tour match in more than two years and said he’d contemplated giving tennis away.
Now, though, even fresh setbacks haven’t pulled him down.
“I wouldn’t be playing if I couldn’t still give some entertainment on the court,” Kyrgios told 7NEWS upon arrival at Melbourne Airport.
“I felt that in Brisbane. I can feel that Melbourne’s pretty excited.”
An abdominal injury that could get worse with a single shot is a nightmare scenario for the big-serving drawcard.
“I’ve still got five days up my sleeve so I probably won’t serve for the next couple of days,” Kyrgios said.
“I’ve got a couple of practices scheduled. I’ll do everything I can. It’s not too serious, I’ll just take it day by day and give myself the best chance.”
Kyrgios has almost nothing to lose from giving it a crack given he is unranked, having entered the draw on a protected ranking.
His return to the Davis Cup arena, though, looms large.
He has not donned the green and gold since 2019 amid speculation that he had fallen out with team captain Hewitt.
According to Kyrgios, his recall for a clash with Sweden in Stockholm was not entirely out of the blue.
“I’ve always had a bit of a rough injury road the past four, five years,” he said.
“Honestly, me and Lleyton Hewitt’s relationship has been great the entire time.
“I think it’s the media who have obviously at times tried to stir that pot but we’ve always had a really good relationship.
“I hit with his son all the time and there’s always been a media thing going on lately. Me and that entire family have a great relationship
“I think Lleyton’s always been super accommidating to me and he’s obviously just caring. He said ‘get ready to go, we’d love to have you in the team’. I feel like I can help, before I got injured I was one of the best players in the world.”
Kyrgios conceded the strength of the rest of the Australian team could see him return as a doubles specialist.
For now tennis is simply waiting to see if he can rediscover those former glories after being cut down for the first time soon after reaching his first grand slam final at Wimbledon in 2022.
“I’m just going to enjoy these later stages of my career,” Kyrgios said.
“If I lose, I lose.
“I’ve had a really good career and I’m just going to enjoy it.”