Nick Kyrgios‘ injury withdrawal from the 2023 Australian Open was a shocker to all. The 19th seed was the Australian No. 1 and many hopes were pinned on him this year. While he had the pressure of expectations from the time he turned Pro, this year, things were different as he himself was equally focused on winning the Major.

Kyrgios withdraw the day the Grand Slam began. He was supposed to start his season at the United Cup 2023 but made a late withdrawal. The story in Melbourne Park was no different. Citing his knee injury, he announced in a press conference that he will not be playing at his home Slam this year.

The Australian was dejected and even had his physio justify his decision. He waited till the last moment to take the final decision but it wasn’t the one he wanted. Despite Kyrgios posting the extent of his injury on social media, former World No. 1 and two-time Australian Open winner Boris Becker wasn’t fully convinced of the injury.

‘It didn’t look that way on Friday night when he played two sets against Djokovic. He talked about injuries beforehand, but to the ankle and not to the knee. But what Nick Kyrgios says and what he does are often two different things,” said the seven-time Grand Slam title winner speaking with Eurosport.

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Nick Kyrgios unlikely to return before mid-February

The injury Nick Kyrgios has suffered has forced him to undergo surgery. As a result, he will be out for somewhere around four to six weeks. With rehabilitation, one can expect Kyrgios to return somewhere around March. In no case, it looks feasible and practical for the Aussie No. 1 to return by mid-February.

With March seeing the Sunshine Double, Kyrgios could target the two events before the Golden Swing kicks in. Although he has plans to play at the 2023 French Open, he might wish to find his groove on hardcourts before returning to the clay courts.

As for the comments by Becker, the former World No. 13 is yet to give a reply. The two have had multiple feuds over the years. The German great had called Nick a ‘rat’ for questioning Alexander Zverev’s party during the Pandemic. Kyrgios in return had called Becker a ‘doughnut’ and said he wasn’t the sharpest despite his volleying skills.