Nick Kyrgios has officially pulled out of the upcoming Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, following in the footsteps of Novak Djokovic. The Australian, who entered the tournament using a protected ranking, has opted to extend his break from competition, continuing a challenging stretch in his career.
Injury setbacks continue to plague Kyrgios
Kyrgios has struggled with multiple physical issues over the past few years, including surgery on his left knee and a ruptured ligament in his right wrist. His most recent match came in Miami, where he defeated Mackenzie McDonald before falling to Karen Khachanov. That second-round loss remains his only win of the season, and signs point to him missing the US Open as well.
Djokovic also steps away ahead of US Open
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Cincinnati for non-medical reasons, choosing to rest ahead of the US Open. The Serbian star has not played since his semifinal loss at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner and will enter the final Grand Slam of the year without any hard-court preparation.
A turbulent season for both stars
Kyrgios has played only one match between October 2022 and early 2025, while Djokovic has skipped both the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens. Their absences highlight the physical toll of the tour and the strategic decisions players make to preserve longevity and peak performance.
With both players sidelined, the Cincinnati draw opens up for emerging talent to make their mark in the absence of two of the sport’s most charismatic figures.
Novak Djokovic in 2025
Currently ranked no.
6, Novak played his last match on the 11th of July when he lost to world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal in Wimbledon (draw).During this season Djokovic has managed to achieve a compiled 26-9 record. Novak has won 1 title in Geneva. Novak got to the final in Miami.
Nick Kyrgios in 2025
Ranked no.642, Nick played his last match on the 21st of March when he capitulated to world no.16 Karen Khachanov 7-6(3) 6-0 in the 2nd round in Miami (draw).
Currently, during this season Nick has achieved an overall 1-4 win-loss record.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios faced off 3 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-1 for Kyrgios.