Nick Kyrgios, the Australian tennis star, faced a heartbreaking moment at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. During his first-round match against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, Kyrgios was forced to retire due to a right wrist injury. The match had been a closely contested battle, with Kyrgios losing the first set in a tiebreak 7-6 (9-7) and trailing 3-0 in the second set when he made the difficult decision to withdraw.
Kyrgios, known for his fiery personality and exceptional talent, was visibly emotional as he left the court. The 29-year-old had his head in his hands and was in tears before offering a handshake to van de Zandschulp and walking off the court. This unfortunate incident follows Kyrgios’s first-round exit at the Australian Open earlier this year, where he also struggled with injuries.
The wrist injury that forced Kyrgios to retire has been a recurring issue for the tennis star. He had previously undergone wrist and knee surgeries, and this latest setback raises concerns about his future in the sport. Despite his efforts to return to top-level tennis, physical problems continue to haunt him.
Kyrgios’s retirement from the match denied him a potential second-round showdown with Novak Djokovic, a close friend and one of the greatest players in tennis history. Fans and commentators alike were left wondering about Kyrgios’s future and whether he would be able to overcome his injury struggles to compete at the highest level once again.
As Kyrgios walked off the court to a warm round of applause from the crowd, it was clear that the tennis world was witnessing a poignant moment in the career of a player who has always been a crowd favorite. The emotional scenes at Indian Wells serve as a reminder of the physical and mental challenges that professional athletes face, and the resilience required to overcome them.
Nick Kyrgios in 2025
Currently the world no., the Australian played his last match on the 6th of March when he had to retire when playing against world no.85 Botic Van De Zandschulp in the 1st round and the scoreline was 7-6(7) 3-0
.Currently, during this season the Australian has a 0-3 win-loss record.
He is also scheduled to play in Miami (Miami Open) on the 19th of March and () on the 29th of December.
Van De Zandschulp in Indian Wells, ranking, and results in 2025
Now ranked no.85, Botic achieved a 6-8 win-loss record in 2025. Botic is participating in Indian Wells where he conquered the world no.147 Lukas Klein 5-7 6-3 6-3, the world no.217 Matteo Gigante 7-5 6-0 and Nick Kyrgios 7-6(7) 3-0 ret..
Botic Van De Zandschulp will square off with the world no.7 Novak Djokovic in the 2nd round. The head to head is 1-0 for Djokovic.
Van De Zandschulp will play next in Cap Cana Challenger (Cap Cana Challenger). He will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 1st of January.
Nick Kyrgios and Botic Van De Zandschulp squared off just 1 time. Their current record is 1-0 for Van De Zandschulp.