Tennis young gun, Nick Kyrgios, is staying positive and looking towards getting as competitive as possible for the Australian Open, after having to miss the Brisbane International.
Sustaining a shoulder injury during Boxing Day, the 18-year-old couldn’t heal fast enough to take part in the preliminary competition.
He was supposed to be up against fellow Aussie Matt Ebden from Western Australia, but was replaced by Alex Kuznetsov from the USA.
Kyrgios was upbeat though, and has his heart set on progressing smoothly through the Australian Open, despite having to forego the competition and the extra training.
“I feel good that the long-term prognosis is really positive and that this is just going to be a minor setback. I’m disappointed I won’t be on court… I was really looking forward to it and I look forward to being back on court in Brisbane in 2015,” he said this week.
Kyrgios’ coach, Simon Rea, said his team would now focus on rehabilitation ahead of the remainder of the Australian summer.
“Nick’s just come off a seven-week training block and was primed and ready to go for the tournament,” Rea said.
“On Boxing Day he experienced some minor irritation in his right shoulder but got through his practice session okay. The soreness has since persisted and we’ve been working with the medical team to get Nick fit to compete, but tonight was the last roll of the dice and unfortunately we’ve run out of time to get on court.”
Now the training regimen has shifted to getting Kyrgios back at the high fitness level expected at grand slams. The training team is still hoping he can fit in a couple of matches before the January 13 start.
“The medical team is confident the injury will settle, so playing in Sydney isn’t out of the question,” Rea says.
“We’re certainly hopeful he can get to Sydney and get some matches in before the Australian Open.”
“Nick’s had his heart set on competing here in Brisbane but he’ll bounce back from this and be out on court again soon at full fitness.”
Kyrgios’ doubles partner, Thanassi Kokkinakis (17) made an impressive start at the Brisbane International against Lleyton Hewitt. The 32-year-old Australian tennis veteran was expecting to cruise through the next round but had to work hard against the South Australian Kokkinakis before claiming a 6-3, 7-5 victory in one hour and 40 minutes at Pat Rafter Arena. For Kokkinakis the match was one to remember, as it was his first ATP tour match after earning his main draw berth coming through three qualifying matches without dropping a set.