There was a time not too long ago when Nick Kyrgios was giving John McEnroe a run for his money in becoming one of, if not the most, polarizing figures in professional tennis history. He had the talent and the mouth to back it up.
One thing was missing, though, from Kyrgios's on-court brilliance: winning. Instead of winning, Kyrgios was talking, yelling, cussing, and, well, talking some more. Some fans were there for it, others weren't. Still, in any tournament, whether it be major or minor, a draw that included the Aussie native was bound to showcase entertainment, good or bad.
Unfortunately, Kyrgios' brand of entertainment has largely been invisible of late, much of the reason due to injuries and setbacks from those injuries. As we come upon the US Open, it will again not feature Kyrgios, as he withdrew from the event just this week.
Another US Open opportunity lost for Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios has missed the last two US Open events, dating back to 2023. His last appearance was in 2022, when he made it to the quarterfinals, the furthest he's ever advanced in New York. At the time, Kyrgios was playing incredible tennis and had put together a solid year that included an exciting run at Wimbledon.
Following that US Open run, the injuries began to prey on Kyrgios, and he ended up missing significant time between 2023 and now. He's also endured three surgeries, not to mention the mental and emotional toll the journey has inflicted on him, of which he has been open and transparent about publicly.
Now, having recently bowed out of the US Open competition, Kyrgios will have missed all four Grand Slam events this year, and there is no telling how much more tennis he will miss for the remainder of this year.
One has to wonder where the level of competition would be right now with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz having exploded onto the scene within the last few years if Kyrgios were in play. Remember, once upon a time, he enjoyed some level of success against the big three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
He came out on top each time he faced the three for the first time, and ended up defeating both Nadal and Djokovic multiple times in their careers. Who knows how Kyrgios would match up against Sinner or Alcaraz today if he were healthy enough to play them at his best?
It's hard to say if we will see Kyrgios back on the US Open stage in the future—he has made several retirement comments over the past year. Yet, he has also given strong indications he wants to continue playing.
If you're a fan of Kyrgios and his game, there is still hope, just not this year, and not at Flushing Meadows.