Nick Kyrgios has message for Dominic Thiem amid Austrian's crushing announcement

03/28/2024 09:00 PM

Nick Kyrgios has sent a message of encouragement to Dominic Thiem amid the Austrian's latest setback as the Australian tennis star acknowledged that wrist issues are very tough to deal and wished the former world No. 3 a quick recovery, while also hailing the Austrian tennis star's success as "amazing." 

Since Thiem accomplished his biggest tennis dream and goal of winning a Grand Slam at the 2020 US Open, it has been a struggle for the 30-year-old. It all started during a grass-court tournament in Mallorca in 2021 June, when Thiem sustained a wrist injury. 

Initially, the diagnosis wasn't that concerning as the expectation was that Thiem would be able to play again after the 2021 grass season. Not only that Thiem didn't make it in time for the US Open, but he ended up sidelined for nine months before resuming action in 2022 March. 

Since picking up the wrist injury, the 2020 US Open champion hasn't had much success and he hasn't come anywhere near rediscovering his old game and level. This week, the 30-year-old Austrian shared some tough news, revealing that his wrist injury recently resurfaced and that it is causing him trouble again.

Kyrgios, who also contracted a wrist injury last summer and had surgery, showed some empathy for Thiem.

"Take your time @domithiem (praying emoji). Wrists are incredibly tough. You have achieved amazing things in your career and you should be proud! If you come back it’s a bonus for us all," Kyrgios wrote on X.

Take your time @domithiem 🙏🏽 wrists are incredibly tough. You have achieved amazing things in your career and you should be proud! If you come back it’s a bonus for us all ❤️

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 28, 2024

After going 1-2 on the main level early in the season, Thiem decided to return to the Challenger level with the hopes that it would help him clinch some good results and catch some confidence. 

But Thiem's return to the Challenger level didn't start impressively as the former world No. 3 suffered a shock 3-6 4-6 loss to 302nd-ranked Daniel Michalski in the Szekesfehervar Challenger first round. A week later in Zadar, Thiem kicked off his run with a 6-2 7-6 (4) win over Filip Krajinovic but then very disappointingly lost 2-6 1-6 to world No. 219 Lukas Neumayer in his next match. 

This week, the Austrian was scheduled to compete at the Naples Challenger but he ended up withdrawing from the tournament. Now, it is known that the reason behind his withdrawal was a wrist injury. 

In an announcement uploaded on Instagram, Thiem revealed that he lowered the intensity in his practices but that he hopes to return to action at an ATP 250 tournament in Estoril next week.

"Unfortunately, little bit before the Challenger in Hungary, the first tournament back for me, my wrist started to make some issues again. I started to have those clicks again which bothered me also straight after I came back from the injury three years ago. And also this strange feeling came back and yeah it turned to pain in the last weeks and there is a minor inflammation there," Thiem said in a video uploaded on his Instagram. 

"Right now the situation is that I turned down the volume a bit. I'm practicing a little bit less, also a little bit shorter because chances are good that I can make it to Estoril, that I can play there. That's the plan as well. I want to start playing there again which is my goal. 

"And as always, thank you so much for all your support. It means the world to me and see you soon."

After sustaining a wrist injury in the first week of the 2023 season in Stuttgart, Kyrgios was hoping to be able to compete at Wimbledon and the US Open but that didn't happen. In the end, Kyrgios ended up missing the remainder of 2023 and having surgery on his wrist. 

After also missing the start of this season, 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios started this week by returning to the practice court. 

"First hit in 8 months after wrist surgery. Slowly I'm coming baby," Kyrgios wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

Kyrgios' return to the practice court went well as the eight-time ATP champion revealed that his wrist responded well. 

"Hey, guys. As you know, it's my first hit today. Super excited, wrist feels good. Just icing it right now. Doing all the right things," Kyrgios updated after the training session.

Since the clay season is starting next week and Kyrgios has appeared in just one clay tournament since 2019, there are no guarantees that the Australian is aiming to return during the clay season. But one thing is for sure, Kyrgios will be determined to be ready to play when his favorite part of the year - the grass season - kicks off.