Nick Kyrgios Forced Absent From French Open 2023, The Reason Is Quite Surprising

Tennis player from Australia, Nick Kyrgios. (Photo: Instagram/@k1ngkyrg1os)

JAKARTA - Nick Kyrgios is certain to be absent from the French Open 2023. The Australian decided to withdraw from competition.

Nick Kyrgios' agent explained that the player's decision was due to the leg injuries he suffered while trying to fight the gunman who allegedly stole his car, not due to knee surgery.

Earlier, the French Tennis Federation said Kyrgios was absent at Roland Garros after undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn left meniscus.

However, agent Kyrgios said that his knee was "good" and a severe leg wound was the reason why he would not be in Paris next week.

"The knee operation went as well as possible and the rehabilitation was fantastic and we were at the point where we made preparations and management in the field," said Daniel Horsfall, as broadcast by AFP on Thursday.

"We have to be at a point where he can play five sets comfortably. Right when we were caught in the preparation period, (allegedly) an armed robbery took place at his home."

"During the ordeal, his leg was badly injured. It didn't heal properly and he couldn't work in the field, so he's been out of the field for almost two weeks now," he continued, as reported by Antara.

A court document quoted by Australian broadcaster ABC earlier this month said a man pointed a gun at Kyrgios' mother before stealing a lima green Tesla near her home in Canberra.

Kyrgios, who was close to the scene, called the police and used the app on his cell phone to help them track the location of his car. It's not clear how his leg was injured.

The finalist Wimbledon 2022, ranked 26th in the world, has not played at the French Open since being eliminated in the second half in 2017.

He never grew on the clay of Roland Garros, reaching the third half only two of the five times he played there.

Kyrgios had a difficult year, pleading guilty for attacking his ex-girlfriend in February. Then, his grandmother died this week.