Nick Kyrgios pulls out of Tokyo Olympics; cites injury, lack of crowds

Nick Kyrgios pulled out of Australia's tennis team for the Olympics hours after Tokyo's governor confirmed a ban on fans in the city's stadiums during the games which start July 23.

Kyrgios posted a statement on social media early Friday local time to announce his withdrawal, citing a need to get healthy and the ban on fans at Tokyo Olympics venues as reasons.

"It's been my dream to represent Australia at the Olympics and I know I may never get that opportunity again," Kyrgios posted.

"But I also know myself. The thought of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn't sit right with me. It never has."

The 26-year-old Australian, who also missed the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, said he also "wouldn't want to take an opportunity away from a healthy Aussie athlete ready to represent the country."

At Wimbledon last week, Kyrgios had to retire after the second set of his third-round match against Felix Auger-Aliassime because of a strained abdominal muscle.

He said it was a ...