Nick Kyrgios announces withdrawal from Stuttgart

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• ATP Tennis

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has announced that he is withdrawing from the upcoming Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. Kyrgios, ranked at No. 58 in the world, is dealing with a neck pain and he is unable to serve comfortably.

Kyrgios, a former world No. 13, has made two appearances on the grass courts of Stuttgart so far in his career. "My tennis family, I’m sorry my return has been pushed back as I am having some uncomfortable pain in my neck at the moment.

I’m trying to get on top of it but as I can’t serve 100% I will only be returning when I feel I can make full impact on the tour. Will stay in touch," Kyrgios said in an Instagram post. Kyrgos hasn't played since the Australian Open

Kyrgios debuted at the Mercedes Cup in 2018.

Back then, the Australian made the Stuttgart semifinal, before losing to record 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. A year later, Kyrgios returned to Stuttgart but that time his campaign was much shorter as he got beaten by Matteo Berrettini in his opener at the tournament.

Kyrgios, who enjoys playing on grass, kicked off his 2021 season at the Murray River Open in Melbourne. Kyrgios then played at the Australian Open, where he made the third round before losing in five sets to Dominic Thiem.

''I can change like the wind. I'm not too sure, depending on what happens with COVID in Australia, you know, I'm assuming we will probably settle it pretty quickly. But I don't know how I'll have to quarantine in overseas in tournaments," Kyrgios said after the Thiem loss.

"For me personally, man, I'm used to playing in front of packed stadiumds. I'm not gonna force myself around the world when the time is not right where I have to quarantine for a week and then play. I don't know, I'm not too sure what lies ahead."