Nick Kyrgios, the enigmatic Australian tennis star and 2022 Wimbledon finalist, has been dealt yet another blow in his injury-plagued career, jeopardling uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming US Open, set to begin on August 24, 2025. The 30-year-old, who has battled a litany of physical setbacks over the past three years, suffered a new wrist injury during a practice session, forcing his withdrawal from the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, where he was slated to compete in both singles and doubles alongside Gael Monfils. This latest setback, announced on July 20, 2025, has left fans and pundits questioning whether Kyrgios can make a meaningful return to Flushing Meadows, where he reached the quarterfinals in 2022, or if his career is nearing its end.
Kyrgios’ journey back to competitive tennis has been fraught with challenges since his standout 2022 season, when he reached the Wimbledon final and won the Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis. Persistent knee, foot, and wrist injuries, requiring three surgeries, have limited him to just six matches since late 2022, with only one victory—a hard-fought win over Mackenzie McDonald at the Miami Open in March 2025. “The timing of the abdominal strain was not ideal,” Kyrgios reflected after his first-round loss to Jacob Fearnley at the 2025 Australian Open, where a grade 1 abdominal strain hampered his performance. “I knew I wasn’t 100% going into this match. I knew tonight was going to be tough with my physical state.” His latest wrist issue, a flare-up of a previously reconstructed scapholunate ligament, has now derailed plans for a comeback at the Washington Open, a tournament where he has won two singles titles and one doubles crown.
The Australian’s struggles have been both physical and emotional. After his Australian Open defeat, Kyrgios admitted, “Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing singles match here again,” hinting at a potential shift toward doubles or even retirement. His friend and compatriot Jordan Thompson revealed the depth of Kyrgios’ frustration after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the French Open doubles in May 2025. “He was pretty down. He told me he doesn’t know how much more of these injuries he can take,” Thompson said, underscoring the toll of Kyrgios’ relentless setbacks. Despite this, Kyrgios remains determined, posting on Instagram, “This is just a bump in the road though and I’m already working hard to get back stronger than ever.”
Kyrgios had planned to use his protected ranking of No. 21 to enter the main draws of the Washington Open, Cincinnati Masters, and US Open, where he also intended to compete in the new-look Mixed Doubles Championship with Naomi Osaka. His 2022 US Open run, where he upset defending champion Daniil Medvedev to reach the quarterfinals, marked a career highlight, showcasing his electrifying serve and flair. “I’m one of the biggest servers on Tour and I’m getting outserved tonight,” he lamented after the Australian Open, where his serve, once rated among the ATP’s best by Goran Ivanišević, was diminished by injury. With his current ranking at No. 633 due to limited play, Kyrgios’ protected ranking offers a lifeline, but his physical condition remains a significant hurdle.
The US Open, where Kyrgios has activated his protected ranking, represents a critical opportunity to reclaim his place among tennis’s elite. His planned doubles partnership with Monfils and mixed doubles with Osaka had generated excitement, with fans on X buzzing about the “Kyrgios/Monfils and Shelton/Tiafoe pairings” at Washington. However, posts also reflect skepticism, with one user predicting, “Nope !! Will pull out in the last minute.. citing his wrist is cooked.” Kyrgios’ history of withdrawals—missing all four Grand Slams in 2023 and both the French Open and Wimbledon in 2025—adds weight to these concerns. His brief return at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi in December 2024 and a UTS match win over Casper Ruud in September 2024 offered glimmers of hope, but the recurring injuries have dimmed optimism.
As the tennis world turns its attention to Flushing Meadows, Kyrgios’ future hangs in the balance. His off-court ventures, including his acclaimed commentary for BBC and ESPN at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2024, and his interview series *Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios*, highlight his charisma and versatility. Yet, his passion for the game persists. “I’ll play the Grand Slams,” he vowed after the Australian Open, eyeing Wimbledon and the US Open as key targets. With the Cincinnati Masters also on his radar, where he was runner-up in 2017, Kyrgios faces a race against time to recover. His resilience, praised by peers like Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, who noted his kindness in practicing with her, keeps hope alive that “The Nuke” can still detonate on the grand stage.
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