Nick Kyrgios Withdraws From Indian Wells • BNP Paribas Tennis

Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his fourth round match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2018. EPA-EFE/MARK CRISTINO

 

 

INDIAN WELLS— Nick Kyrgios’ BNP Paribas Open is over before it began.

 

The 20th-ranked Aussie has officially withdrawn from this year’s BNP Paribas Open due to a lingering right elbow injury.

 

The 22-year-old Kyrgios, who opened the season winning his fourth career title in Brisbane, has not played since the first week of February because of his right elbow injury.

 

Kyrgios split two singles matches in Australia’s World Group first-round loss to visiting Germany last month. Kyrgios defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets before bowing to his buddy, Alexander Zverev, 6-2, 7-6, 6-2.

 

The enigmatic Kyrgios arrived in Indian Wells early to train, conducted a kids’ clinic earlier this week and was spotted with girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic catching an Uber in in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express on Monday night.

 

It’s the second straight year an injury has knocked Kyrgios out of Palm Springs.

 

Last March, Kyrgios conquered Zverev and then world No. 2 Novak Djokovic in succession before conceding a walkover to Roger Federer in the quarterfinals due to illness.

 

That departure prompted Federer and Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas to play a one-set exhibition when Kyrgios could not play.

 

The explosive Kyrgios joined his Davis Cup captain, Lleyton Hewitt, as the second man to defeat Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in his first meetings against the iconic trio.