Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the Australian Open because of a knee injury.
The Australian No 1, considered one of the favourites after reaching his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon last summer, had not played a warm-up event because of a knee injury.
He played a charity match against Novak Djokovic on Friday and did not indicate his participation was in doubt, but he called an impromptu press conference on Monday afternoon where he said he was "devastated" to have to withdraw due to a small tear in his lateral meniscus (knee).
"It's brutal. All I can do now is just look forward, do what I need to do and come back"
Kyrgios said: "I'm devastated, obviously. It's my home tournament. I've had some great memories here. Obviously, last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably.
"Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it's brutal. All I can do now is just look forward, do what I need to do and come back."
