Wimbledon 2021: Nick Kyrgios retires hurt against Felix Auger-Aliassime in round three

Nick Kyrgios retired with an injury after the second set of his third-round Wimbledon match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Kyrgios appeared to struggle with an abdominal injury and told a trainer that he couldn't serve properly and was worried about tearing a muscle.

"It's getting worse and worse," Kyrgios said. "I'm trying but I can't even, I can't serve anymore. I can't do it."

Kyrgios won the first set 6-2 but lost the second 6-1 on No.1 Court.

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"I haven't played this level of tennis in a long time and obviously playing someone as good as Felix, I need my main weapon, my serve, to be firing on all cylinders," Kyrgios said on-court post-match.

"And I just felt my ab, definitely did something to it towards the end of the first set. That's just the way it goes. He's a hell of a player, he's going to do some special things in this sport."

Kyrgios said that his Wimbleson stint had reignited his interest in tennis.

"Playing out here and having this support has kinda made me have a second wind. I reckon I'm gonna come back and play for a bit longer, I reckon," he said, to a raucous round of applause.

"I did all I could to prepare to get here. I beat a heck of a player first round and I played a great second round, and just to get out here again and play two sets, I tried to play as long as I could and I'm sorry that I couldn't give you more today.

"But you'll see a lot more of him in the future - and he's better looking too, so it's all good!"

The Australian is also playing mixed doubles with Venus Williams at this year's tournament and was anxious about telling her about his injury.

"I just got goosebumps thinking [about] the fact I might have to tell Venus Williams I can't play mixed doubles because of injuries," Kyrgios said. "It's going to be heartbreaking.

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time. She obviously won't be too happy about it, too. She doesn't know how many Wimbledons maybe she's going to play again."

Kyrgios, playing his first event outside Australia in more than 18 months, had made a bright start to Wimbledon. He beat 21st seed Ugo Humbert in a thrilling five-setter in round one, before defeating Gianluca Mager in straight sets in round two.

"My game is obviously there," Kyrgios said. "I'm making the guy look pretty average in the first set, and I haven't played a tournament in six months."

The match began with the sort of thing Kyrgios has done before: He showed up to play without his grass-court tennis shoes, so the match was delayed while the footwear was procured for him.

"The one day I thought I was being a professional," Kyrgios joked. "Walking out here so confidently and then — bang! Left the shoes in the locker room."

Australia's other two remaining men have also bowed out of Wimbledon. Italy's 23rd seed Lorenzo Sonego beat James Duckworth 6-3 6-4 6-4, while Belarusian Ilya Ivashka defeated Jordan Thompson 6-4 6-4 6-4.