KYRGIOS WITHDRAWS FROM ATLANTA TOURNAMENT

PARIS, France — Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the singles draw at the ATP event in Atlanta due to a knee injury.

The Australian was scheduled to face German Peter Gojowczyk on Tuesday, but withdrew from the tournament following an earlier doubles win alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“I’m shattered that I’m not able to compete tonight,” Kyrgios told the crowd.

The hard-court event was due to be Kyrgios’ first tournament since his run to the Wimbledon final earlier this month, when he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.

“I’ve won this tournament once and I’m probably playing some of the best tennis in my career and all I wanted to do was come out here and give you guys a show,” Kyrgios added.

* “I’m going to keep my hopes up and maybe be able to continue doubles with Thanasi this week.”

Kyrgios, ranked 47th in the world after Wimbledon was stripped of its ranking points for banning Russian and Belarusian players, could return in Cincinnati after receiving a wildcard for the Masters tournament which starts on August 13.

Meantime, Carlos Alcaraz was confirmed on Monday as the youngest player to break into the ATP top five since Rafael Nadal after the teenager reached the Hamburg final over the weekend.

The 19-year-old Spaniard is the youngest man to achieve the feat since his illustrious compatriot first climbed into the top five in 2005 while still 18.

Alcaraz failed to win the clay-court title in Germany, though, losing to Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti on Sunday despite saving five match points.

Musetti rose 31 places to 31st in the rankings and is now set to be seeded for the US Open, which starts on August 29.

Daniil Medvedev remains the world number one, with Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic seventh after the grass-court Grand Slam tournament was stripped of ranking points for banning Russian and Belarusian players.