By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Australian Nick Kyrgios will have to wait for another tournament to earn his first win of the 2023 season.
In the opening round of the ATP 250 BOSS Open in Stuttgart, Germany, it was China’s Wu Yibing who spoiled Kyrgios’s comeback with a 7-5, 6-3 win.
“The last time I played on grass was juniors back in 2017, so six years,” Wu said after the win. “I was really happy to play Nick in the first round.
"He’s one of the best players on grass and he served well. He aced me (so many times.) The key for me was to stay cool, stay patient in the game and find a way. I’m happy (with the result).”
The Australian star has not competed at the tour level since last October in Japan.
Since then, Kyrgios has been out of action after he had surgery to repair a small tear in his left lateral meniscus in January. Kyrgios also had to deal in May with his monther being allegedly held a gunpoint after a thief tried to steal Kyrgios’s car.
Kyrgios, early in the match, appeared to be struggling physically at one point telling his team on the sidelines that he was “unable to walk without pain.”
Despite potent serving from Kyrgios, the current World No. 64 Wu broke the Australian in the 12th game of the first set. Wu took the first set, and then claimed the only break of the second set. That allowed Wu to clinch the victory for his third career top 30 win.
Kyrgios, currently World No. 25, is seeking to get back to his best in time for Wimbledon where he was runner-up last year to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
Wu will next face Marton Fucsovics in the next round.
Photo Credit: Getty