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World no. 35 Nick Kyrgios is yet to play his second match of the season! After missing Wimbledon and Washington, the Aussie withdrew from the upcoming Canada Masters in Toronto, joining Novak Djokovic on the list of missing players.
The last year's Wimbledon finalist is not in a good position at the moment, struggling to recover and increase the pace of his training sessions, if there are any! Kyrgios underwent knee surgery in January, missing the start of the season and hoping for a fresh start in June.
Instead, Nick played a match in Stuttgart before withdrawing from Halle, Mallorca, Wimbledon, Washington and Toronto! Kyrgios' next targets are Cincinnati and the US Open, but it would not be a surprise if he misses the entire North American swing.
The Aussie is 8-8 at the Canada Masters, experiencing early losses before reaching the quarter-final a year ago. Nick wrapped up the previous season in October and returned two months ago in Stuttgart on his beloved grass.
Kyrgios faced Yibing Wu in the first round and fell 7-5, 6-3, struggling with his movement and relying primarily on his serve.
Nick Kyrgios will not compete in Toronto next week.
Yibing defended both break points and grabbed two return games from three chances to emerge at the top in style.
Kyrgios had his chances in the opening set, serving well until the closing stages and creating a break point in games one and 11. Wu defended them and grabbed a late break right before the tie break for a massive boost. Nick earned a break chance in his first competitive game in months with a crafty slice.
Yibing denied it with a forehand down the line winner and held with an ace to avoid an early setback. Nick landed an ace in the eighth game for 4-4, holding his left knee and struggling to move as he would have wanted. The last year's Wimbledon finalist clinched the tenth game with another ace and created a break chance in the next one with a forehand down the line winner.
Wu saved it with an ace and forced the rival's mistake for a vital hold and 6-5. Nick served to stay in the set in game 12 and hit a double fault to experience two set points. Yibing seized the second with a backhand down the line winner at the net that propelled him 7-5 in front.
Both players served well early in the second set and reached 3-3 in no time. Kyrgios came from 40-15 down to deuce on the return in game seven before Wu held with two winners. The Aussie could not find free points in the eighth game, and the Chinese seized the first break point with a return winner that sent him 5-3 up.
Yibing served for the victory in the ninth game and sealed the deal at love with an ace to earn his first ATP victory on grass.