‘Next tournament – Atlanta 250’: Kyrgios confirms Olympics absence
Nick Kyrgios has given the strongest hint yet that he will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics.
Kyrgios was last month announced as part of the Australian squad set to play in Tokyo but, a few days later, the Atlanta Open revealed the world No. 60 as part of their tournament line-up.
Nick Kyrgios is set to skip the Olympics.Credit:AP
On Wednesday morning, Kyrgios posted an Instagram story from the Bahamas of his rehabilitation program for the abdominal strain which brought his Wimbledon campaign to an end.
Kyrgios wrote at the top of his notes: “Next tournament – Atlanta 250.”
It is the latest indication the Australian star will not join Wimbledon semi-finalist Ash Barty, Alex de Minaur and eight other Australian athletes in Japan.
When questioned over where he was leaning towards playing while at Wimbledon, Kyrgios hinted he would skip the Olympics due to the absence of crowds and inability to watch other athletes compete.
“If I’m to play the Olympics, I want to do it the right way,” he said.
“I want to do it with full crowds, with my guests there. I want to do it when I’m able to watch other athletes do their thing. That’s the Olympics for me. The Olympics, the way it’s going to go on, is not the Olympics.”
Kyrgios was involved in a public feud with 2016 AOC chef de mission Kitty Chiller prior to the Rio Olympics.
While he was welcomed by the AOC this year and Kyrgios was initially eager to play, the lack of support staff and other factors which have stopped the Australian playing on the ATP Tour have contributed to his decision.
“Ever since I was a player I wanted to compete at the Olympics but I’ve also entered Atlanta as well. I’m tossing up my options at the same time,” Kyrgios said last week.
“Whether or not – I’ve heard some things about the Olympics that are very tough, restrictions wise. No guests, none of that stuff.
“Not having the outside noise and having [former Australian Olympic team chef de mission] Kitty Chiller tell me I don’t deserve to be there when I was No. 13 in the world – I mean, it was laughable.
“I went back and forth and I was younger back then and it got a bit personal. But it’s good not to have that outside noise.”
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