An emotional Nick Kyrgios said he’ll do his best to play the second leg of the Sunshine Double after his tearful exit from the BNP Paribas Open. He called it quits in the second set Thursday against Botic van de Zandschulp at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden due to his troublesome right wrist.

Kyrgios underwent wrist reconstruction, returning to tennis in 2025 after playing one match the previous two seasons. “I'll just keep looking forward and try and do the right thing. Obviously the time frame of Miami is not ideal, but I was scheduled to play that, so I will see how my wrist responds,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist said, referring to the Miami Open.

If his playing status for Miami is uncertain, what’s clear now is that the supremely gifted Australian wants to get the most out of his career — if his wrist allows him — after not always being fond of tennis. “This is all I've done since I was seven years old, is play tennis,” said Kyrgios. “Yeah, these are the tournaments I wanted to play growing up. I watched these events. “So yeah, I want to go out there and I want to compete. When I had the surgery 18 months ago, if I really didn't want to play, I didn't have to rehab, I didn't have to try and get back on the court.”

“Amazing opportunities” came when he was away from the game but with time potentially running out on his career, tennis seems to be at the forefront of his mind.“I'm extremely grateful for those (opportunities), but this is where it's all started,” said the 29-year-old.

“None of this would be possible without tennis. None of what I can do for my family, myself, my team, the travel, none of it was possible if I didn't have the results I had in tennis, who I was in tennis.”

If Kyrgios never plays again at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, he’ll still have enjoyed success. Kyrgios reached two quarterfinals and beat the likes of Novak Djokovic — who he would have faced in the second round Saturday had he advanced — and Alexander Zverev. He also lost a thriller to Rafael Nadal in 2022.

“Even after the Australian Open, I wasn't sure what I was going to play next, but this was always probably going to be one of the tournaments I'm going to play regardless,” said Kyrgios. “I love it here. I've had so many good memories here.”