Nick Kyrgios’ much-anticipated comeback to tennis hasn’t gone as planned. After an 18-month break from the court due to successive knee, foot, and wrist injuries, he made his return at the Brisbane International and the Australian Open. However, both tournaments ended in disappointment, with first-round exits. Now, his attempt to bounce back at Indian Wells has been cut short yet again. But, a certain tennis journalist has little by way of sympathy for him.

Facing Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round, the Aussie tennis star found himself trailing 7-6 (9-7), 3-0 when he was forced to retire due to a wrist issue. The 29-year-old, who had surgery on the same wrist in September 2023, was visibly frustrated as he spoke to the trainer before calling it quits. Following his retirement, tennis journalist Bastien Fachan made a pointed remark about Kyrgios’s struggles.

Taking to X, he wrote, “Look, what makes us human is our ability to sympathize with others. I’m sorry for Kyrgios. I used to be a fan; I’m not anymore, for plenty of reasons. But I don’t wish bad on anyone. Karma is a very real thing. Hopefully, Kyrgios learns that lesson, too.”

So, what “karma” is Fachan referring to? Well. for one, his vitriolic outbursts come to mind. The latest iteration from him was his no-holds-barred outspokenness about Jannik Sinner’s recent doping case. The World No. 1 tested positive for trace amounts of Clostebol, a banned substance, back in August. Sinner later explained that the contamination happened when his physiotherapist applied the substance to treat a finger injury. But Kyrgios wasn’t convinced.

When the Italian tennis star received a three-month suspension in February, Kyrgios didn’t hold back his criticism. He took to X, writing, “Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.” His frustration? Sinner’s suspension wouldn’t affect any Grand Slams, and he wouldn’t lose any titles. Kyrgios believed this was unfair, especially given how doping cases have been handled in the past.

Despite the disappointment at Indian Wells, Kyrgios isn’t ready to give up. So what are his future plans?

Nick Kyrgios remains hopeful despite Indian Wells setback

Speaking in a press conference on March 7, Nick Kyrgios admitted that he knew there would be discomfort but still wanted to compete. “I want to play. I knew I was going to be in discomfort tonight after two days ago but I took the court,” said the former World No. 13.

He also took a walk down memory lane, reflecting on his career best season in 2022; a somber Kyrgios couldn’t help but think about what could have been. He reminisced, “I had an amazing season, literally knocking on the door of a Grand Slam, and then you just get pulled right back.” That season, he reached his first Major final at Wimbledon, pushing Novak Djokovic before falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. It was the closest he had come to a Slam in his name, and he’s still chasing that dream.

For now, the Australian tennis player is focused on what’s next. He’s scheduled to play in Miami from March 19 to 30, but with his wrist acting up, his participation remains uncertain. “The pain is not great, but I’ll just keep moving forward, trying to do the right thing,” he said. He knows time isn’t on his side, but he’s not dwelling on things beyond his control. “Obviously the time frame for Miami is not ideal, but that’s where I was scheduled to play so I’ll see how my wrist responds and if not Miami then I’ll keep looking forward. I can’t keep looking back and being disappointed.”

Nick Kyrgios’s return has been far from smooth, but he’s not throwing in the towel just yet. Will he be ready to compete in Miami, or will this injury force another delay?