In another frustrating setback in his build-up to the US Open, Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from the Citi Open with a hip injury.
The fifth-seed at the Washington-based Citi Open event, Kyrgios had made the trip despite injuring his hip in Atlanta last week.
However, the 23-year-old could only pull out of his opening match against fellow Aussie James Duckworth.
Absolutely gutted to have to withdraw from @CitiOpen I’ve done all I can to get my hip ready but ran out of time. I want to thank Keely & her team for the support and apologise to the fans. I’ll be back!
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 1, 2018
❤️🙏🏽
In Kyrgios' absence, another Aussie in Jason Kubler stepped in as the lucky loser, but was beaten by Duckworth 1-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5).
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Kyrgios wasn't the only big name to pull out of the Citi Open with one eye on Flushing Meadows - No. 2-ranked women’s singles player Caroline Wozniacki withdrew with a leg injury.
Kyrgios' loss in Atlanta last week saw the Australian booed off the court after his injury took its toll on his performance.
Just a day after he told reporters in Atlanta if he's playing his best it would be "tough to lose", Kyrgios called it quits against world No. 73 Cameron Norrie.
In that match, Kyrgios was struggling with his movement, requested the trainer in the first set and underwent treatment on the court.
The effort disappeared late in the match as Kyrgios pulled the pin after 52 minutes, down 7-5 3-0.
Later, Kyrgios would take to social media to apologise.
"Sorry Atlanta, Never the way I wanna go out, but gotta get my body right," he wrote on Instagram on Sunday.
The world No.17 is also scheduled to play tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, but his ongoing hip injury could force more withdrawals before the US Open, the year's final major, which begins on August 27 in New York.
