Injured Kyrgios expected to play Open

Nick Kyrgios insists a leg injury which prompted him to pull out of the Kooyong Classic won’t affect his Australian Open campaign.

The 20-year-old retired midway through his clash with Belgian world No.16 David Goffin in searing heat at Kooyong on Wednesday.

Kyrgios won the first set in a tiebreak against Goffin and was trailing 3-2 in the second before bringing the clash to a premature end.

“Hate withdrawing, so sorry to everyone @KooyongClassic,” tweeted the Australian.

“I just have to make sure I’m right for next week & I will be.”

The injury was diagnosed as a soft-tissue complaint between his ankle joint and Achilles tendon.

Tournament physiotherapist Rob Hanna, who attended to Kyrgios numerous times through the match, said the world No.30 initially suffered the injury while practising on Tuesday.

“It was there a little bit this morning when he hit up before the match,” Hanna said.

“He got to 2-3 in the first set and said he noticed it a bit more and that’s why he called me out.”

Hanna said Kyrgios told him it was feeling worse in the second set so he advised him to withdraw.

Hanna said the only treatment was ice and rest.

“It’s just a soft-tissue inflammation and he hasn’t torn anything.”

The physio said Kyrgios would know more after seeing how he felt on Thursday but didn’t think his Australian Open campaign was in danger.

“There’s no guarantees but I would say he’s less than a two per cent chance of not playing,” said Hanna.

Event drawcard Kyrgios also told organisers he would not contest his scheduled second match at Kooyong on Friday.

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