Kyrgios tells ofsadnessat setback for Murray

Nick Kyrgios admits he has been left saddened by Andy Murray’s latest hip setback and hailed the Scot as “good for the sport”.

Murray pulled out of the Brisbane International on Tuesday as the long-term hip injury that has sidelined him since Wimbledon was still causing him pain.

The 30-year-old revealed he is considering surgery but Kyrgios, the world number 21 and a close friend of Murray’s, hopes it does not come to that.

“It’s pretty sad; he’s definitely a fan favourite,” Kyrgios said.

“He brings a lot of the people to all these tournaments and he’s a good friend of mine.”

The Australian progressed to the third round in Brisbane with a 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win over compatriot Matthew Ebden.

Murray’s participation in the first Grand Slam of the year – the Australian Open, which starts on January 15 – is in serious doubt.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Murray said: “In the short term I’m going to be staying in Australia for the next couple of days to see if my hip settles down a bit and will decide by the weekend whether to stay out here or fly home to assess what I do next.”

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will play two exhibition events in Melbourne next week in a bid to prove his fitness for the Australian Open.

He pulled out of the Abu Dhabi and ATP Doha events with pain in his right elbow.

Nick Kyrgios: saddened by Murray injury.