Despite Doubles Glory, Australian Star Nick Kyrgios Cries Foul Over a Missed Singles Opportunity at ATP Finals – ‘First Time in 53 Years…’

Nick Kyrgios, the Australian tennis ace, has qualified for the doubles of the Nitto ATP Finals this season. He will soon travel to Turin alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis for the event. However, he suffered a knee injury during the Japan Open and hasn’t participated in any ATP tournament since the US Open. He will not be a part of the singles. 

Kyrgios made up to the finals of the Wimbledon Championships this season. Though because of the stripping of ranking points and his unfortunate injury, he will have to settle for doubles only. Here’s his take on the same.

Nick Kyrgios about having a chance to play in ATP Finals’ doubles only

When Kyrgios stumbled upon the news, he had a bittersweet reaction. He took on Instagram to share his happiness tinged with sadness and wrote, “Should been singles as well… No point at Wimbledon.”

Thereafter, he added, “First time in 53 years, but we won’t speak of that.” The ATP stripped London-based majors of their ranking points in response to the ban they imposed on Russian and Belarusian players over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The aftermath of this affected Kyrgios heavily. 

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He showcased excellent gameplay during the tournament and took down professionals such as the former World N0 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas to make his Grand Slam finals debut. The Aussie should have bagged sufficient points from this run. But ATP’s counteraction soiled it all and his historic victory in the Citi Open and quarterfinals run in Canadian Masters and the US Open failed to undo the loss.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis’ performance as a team this year

They gave a kick-start to the season by claiming the trophy at the Australian Open and executing a semifinal run in Miami. Following that, they teamed up for the Atlantan Open. In the ATP 250 event, just like the Australian majors, they got the better of fellow Australian professionals in the finals.

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Then came the Citi Open, the event which was most fruitful for the Kyrgios this year. The 27-year-old claimed the singles trophy against Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka and, with Kokkinakis, reigned in doubles as well. Thereafter, they had a round of 16 run in the US Open and were about to play in the semifinals of the Japan Open when Kyrgios’ injury happened.