Painful exit for Kyrgios

NICK KYRGIOS is not an easy man to love but there are times when you can only feel sorry for him.

Immensely talented but drawn to controversy like a moth to a flame, the Australian has made waves throughout his career. But yesterday, as the world No17 stumbled out of the US Open in the first round, beaten 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 by fellow Australian and world No235 John Millman and a dead serving arm – in more or less that order – even the most cynical observer could not help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

Kyrgios had looked focused – or focused by his standards – and ready for the fight. For the first time in months he felt fit and he was playing well. Two weeks ago, he reached the final of the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.

But then, in the second game of the third set yesterday, he went to hit a serve, felt something go in his shoulder and from then on, his right arm felt numb and weak.

Unable to serve or hit his forehand with any power and without pain, he was on a hiding to nothing. As the trainer tried to massage life back into his shoulder, Kyrgios gave a running commentary on his sorry summer: a hip injury forced him to pull out of his first-round matches at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon and a different shoulder injury curtailed his opening match in Washington. Now he was crocked again.

“I’m playing fine,” he said. “Then literally one serve and the arm’s dead and numb. One serve – like bang – and I lost power in my arm.

“I don’t know what to do. I really don’t. I was feeling good. I finally have a good spell last week, I have a tough match now, another Aussie and this happens in the middle of the third set. It’s rough.”

Millman, who is clawing his way back from a seven-and-a-half month lay-off following groin surgery, was delighted with his first US Open win, but only had sympathy for his compatriot.

“It’s a victory, but it feels like a hollow victory,” said Millman. “I feel for him, I really do.”