<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339864</docID> <postdate>2025-03-07 17:15:47</postdate> <headline>Kyrgios’s career in jeopardy after latest injury blow</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339865" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250113141076068398-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="593" /></p> <caption>Nick Kyrgios has again failed to finish a match due to injury. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Oliver</strong> <strong>Caffrey</strong> and <strong><b>Darren Walton</b></strong></span></p> <p><strong>Tennis' great sideshow may soon become a complete no-show after Nick Kyrgios's latest comeback ended in despair, once again.</strong></p> <p>Kyrgios was trailing Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (9-7) 3-0 in Indian Wells when he quit the first-round encounter with a right wrist injury.</p> <p>Playing on an injury-protected ranking after being sidelined for almost three years, Kyrgios had held a set point in the first-set tiebreaker.</p> <p>But it was all downhill after dropping the set.</p> <p>The one-time world No.13 was visibly upset speaking to a tournament trainer, knowing his night - and possibly his singles career - was over.</p> <p>The 29-year-old wiped away tears before walking over to van de Zandschulp and conceding the match.</p> <p>"I wasn't too confident that I was going to be able to play today," Kyrgios said.</p> <p>"Two days ago in practice, I had to stop my practice because I felt pain in my wrist, but I felt like it was OK to take to the court."</p> <p>If Kyrgios had won, he would have played the legendary Novak Djokovic in the second round.</p> <p>Instead his withdrawal casts further doubt on his career after the 2022 Wimbledon finalist made a lame first-round exit from the Australian Open in January.</p> <p>Kyrgios conceded after that Melbourne Park exit that he may have played his last-ever singles match at his home slam.</p> <p>It was his first appearance at a major since making the 2022 US Open quarter-finals, before then requiring wrist and knee surgeries.</p> <p>In all reality, the controversial Canberran's singles career may finished, full stop.</p> <p>Languishing outside the world's top 1000, Kyrgios can continue playing on an injury-protected ranking throughout 2025.</p> <p>But if he fails to win matches - and his last victory came two and a half years ago - Kyrgios will need to rely on wildcard entries to play on the ATP Tour.</p> <p>He conceded in November of 2023 that "the stars have to align a little bit" to make a successful comeback.</p> <p>Those words now seem prophetic, with the mercurial talent being urged to pursue a doubles career.</p> <p>He won the Australian Open doubles crown with Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2022 and the team format appears the enigmatic showman's best path to capturing the attention he so craves.</p> <p>Should this be the end of his singles career, Kyrgios will go down as arguably the most unfulfilled talent in men's tennis history.</p> <p>His lone grand slam final appearance came after receiving a walkover in the semi-finals.</p> <p>Once described by John McEnroe as the most prodigious talent in more than 30 years, Kyrgios never cracked the world's top 10 or helped Australia to a Davis Cup final, let alone win one.</p> </body>