Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open for the second year running due to injury.
The 28-year-old was seldom seen on the court last year due to a plethora of injury problems, missing all four Grand Slams and playing just one singles match at Stuttgart in June, losing to China's Wu Yibing.
Kyrgios did not play Down Under last year due to a knee injury, which he underwent surgery on, although he was expected to return for the French Open only to withdraw citing a new foot problem sustained during a robbery, where his mother was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by a man who stole his Tesla.
The Australian then withdrew from his Wimbledon first-round match with David Goffin owing to a torn wrist ligament, which he spent the remainder of 2023 recovering from, although it was hoped that he would return for the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne,
However, Kyrgios has now confirmed that he will not play at the Australian Open but will be involved as a commentator, saying in a social media video: "I won't be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open.
"But even though I won't be there competing this year at the AO, I still will be around, commentating matches. I've got some special things planned, so please be excited.
"I've had so many amazing memories there and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right and I need a little more time."
Kyrgios dropped to 192 in the ATP rankings in September owing to his lengthy absence, and his best result at the Australian Open remains a quarter-final appearance in 2015.
Ben Knapton
