At this point, health issues have become normal among tennis players. Even the best players like Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have them from time to time. Now that the busiest section of the tennis season is over, tennis players finally have the chance to take a break from the tennis courts so they can assess their health. It is especially an opportunity for these tennis players to heal from the injuries that they get from the successive tennis tournaments that they participate in.
Nick Kyrgios taking time off for the rest of the year
After a roller coaster of a tennis season, Nick Kyrgios has announced that he will be sitting out of the remaining tournaments scheduled until November. This is because he wants to heal from the shoulder injury that he acquired during the latest tournaments.
He lost the first round of the Zhuhai Championships to Italian player Andreas Seppi. He complained that his shoulder hurt, stopping him from doing his legendary serve. The shoulder injury is also the reason that he bowed out of the Laver Cup last week.
The top-ranking Australian said it made sense for him to withdraw from other tournaments since he cannot play with his favorite shot. He is expected, however, to participate in the revamped Davis Cup in two months.
Simona Halep retires from Wuhan Open
Romanian tennis star Simona Halep is also experiencing her own difficulties with injuries. The player, who currently ranks no. 6 in the world, had to retire on the third round of her Wuhan Open match against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina because of a lower back injury.
Halep said that the lower back pain that she currently feels is in the same area as the injury that plagued her last year. Earlier this month, the former world no. 1 also had to withdraw from the Zhengzhou Open because of an ankle injury. Halep is still not sure whether she will return for the remaining tournaments this year.
Kei Nishikori misses Federer exhibition
Meanwhile, the top-ranking Asian player in the world also has to put up with injuries. Japanese star Kei Nishikori had to cancel an exhibition game with Roger Federer scheduled next month. He sustained minor arm and elbow injuries, which he wanted to fully heal so it will not become a problem later.
Nishikori also had to pull out of the Japan Open and Shanghai because of his bruises. It is his target to be fully healed by the time Vienna Open begins. It would be his second time in the Vienna tournament after finishing runner-up to South African player Kevin Anderson last year.
Nick Kyrgios’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.27, Nick played his last match on the 25th of September when he had to bow to Andreas Seppi 7-65 6-1 in the 1st round in Zhuhai.
This year the Australian has a 21-14 win-loss record. Nick clinched 2 titles in 2019 in Acapulco and in Washington.
Kei Nishikori’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.8, Kei played his last match on the 30th of August when he had to bow to Alex De Minaur 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in U.S. Open.
This year Kei has a 29-14 win-loss record. Kei conquered 1 title in Brisbane.
The last time that they squared off, Kei Nishikori won 6-1 7-63 6-4 in the 3rd round in London in July 2018.
Nick Kyrgios and Kei Nishikori |
| Embed from Getty Images |
