Nick Kyrgios faces another injury setback in his planned return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open after an abdominal strain forced him to withdraw from an exhibition with Novak Djokovic this week.

Britain’s Jacob Fearnley was handed a blockbuster Australian Open debut against Nick Kyrgios. Scot Fearnley was still at college in the United States during last year’s tournament but has rocketed up to 86 in the world after a stunning start to his professional tennis career, which included taking a set off Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.

World No.86 Jacob Fearnley will face Nick Kyrgios in his home Grand Slam as the Aussie bad boy returns to action after two years on the sidelines, but it's bad news for Emma Raducanu's hopes of making

Jacob Fearnley was ranked outside the world’s top 600 last year but has qualified for the Australian Open for the first time

The former world No.13 is scheduled to face world No.2 Alex Zverev in the third round but he must first beat Edinburgh’s world No.83 Fearnley. “He took Novak (Djokovic) to four sets at Wimbledon so he’s definitely dangerous and I’ve got a big target on my back,” Kyrgios said.

The Australian had been due to play in an exhibition match alongside Novak Djokovic, but pulled out due to an abdominal injury

Nick Kyrgios threw fresh doubt on whether he will play in the Australian Open after withdrawing from an exhibition match. The Australian, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, returned to action in Brisbane last week after playing only one singles match since October 2022 following knee and wrist surgeries.

Nick Kyrgios raised serious injury fears ahead of the Australian Open by pulling out of a planned charity match against Novak Djokovic. The former world No. 13 recently returned from a two-year injury layoff and has already suffered a new physical setback.

Britain's Jacob Fearnley is set to face Nick Kyrgios - and a partisan home crowd - in the controversial Australian's return to Grand Slam tennis.

Britain's Jacob Fearnley has been handed a blockbuster Australian Open debut against Nick Kyrgios. Scot Fearnley was still at college in the United States during last year's tournament but has rocketed up to No86 in the world after a stunning start to his professional tennis career,

Nick Kyrgios has cast fresh uncertainty over his participation in the Australian Open after pulling out of an exhibition match with Novak Djokovic due to an abdominal strain.