Nick Kyrgios posts cryptic message after French Open blow
Nick Kyrgios has posted a cryptic message on Instagram following his surprise withdrawal from the French Open.
Just days after claiming Roland Garros 'absolutely sucked', the Australian pulled out of the year's second major due to illness.
The announcement ended Kyrgios's brief but eventful clay swing after just three matches.
The world No.36 was defaulted following an on-court outburst in Rome last week, before hitting with Andy Murray at Wimbledon in preparation for the French Open.
Last year he pulled the pin on Paris as he chased some respite from a nagging elbow injury but there were no suggestions this year that the 24-year-old wouldn't line up at the event.
The day after his announcement, an image of Kyrgios standing on a beach appeared on his Instagram.
"And now here I am, trying to save the world, when I can’t even save myself #searching," the caption read.
While it is unclear when the photo was taken, the words attached left many in the comments sharing messages of support.
One came from his good friend, injured Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis.
"You all good brother 🙏🏻," he wrote.
Kyrgios had earned headlines off the court in Rome for his open and honest interview on the NCR podcast.
While he spoke briefly about the ‘dark days’ of last year when he wanted to be at home among family, his frank assessment of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic grabbed the most attention.
He took aim at Djokovic's "cringeworthy" post-match celebrations and Rafael Nadal's "super salty" double standards while also slamming "god's gift" Fernando Verdasco.
That interview was sandwiched between an impressive defeat of Daniil Medvedev and his default to Casper Rudd at the Italian Open.
His red-dirt blip followed a charmed run on American hard courts, highlighted by a title in Acapulco that featured wins against Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Alexander Zverev.
Kyrgios will now turn his attention to his more favoured grass surface.
He is scheduled to appear at the Queen's Club ahead of Wimbledon in July.
Australian readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
with AAP