Australian Open: Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis retire from men's doubles with injury -'We're both injured'

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Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis were forced to retire in their opening match of the 2025 Australian Open men's doubles, with both injured. The Australian pair, who won the title in Melbourne back in 2022, were each nursing injuries from their singles defeats, and handed a walkover to compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth when they were a set and a break down.

'Serving below half-pace' - Kyrgios and Kokkinakis retire injured from doubles

Video credit: TNT Sports

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis retired from their opening men’s doubles match at the Australian Open against James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic.

In the lead-up to the all-Australian affair on John Cain Arena, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis’ fitness had been called into question, after both had been knocked out of the singles draw.

Kyrgios, making his return to Grand Slam tennis after a two-year hiatus, suffered an abdominal strain in Brisbane that threw into doubt his participation in Melbourne.

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He tried to play through the pain when he faced Briton Jacob Fearnley, but he was shocked by the Scot.

Kyrgios seemed in pain throughout that match, and loudly questioned his decision to compete at a changeover.

Kokkinakis made it through his first-round clash against Roman Safuillin, but was then forced into a gruelling five-set thriller against Jack Draper on Wednesday, where he was treated numerous times on court, looking in real physical discomfort.

The pair took the decision to play in the doubles event on Thursday, but they found themselves a set and a break down, and offered their hands in defeat to their compatriots at 3-2 down in the second.

Kyrgios could be heard saying to the chair umpire: "We're both injured... he doesn't need to be out here," before he bade Vukic good luck in his upcoming singles match, where he faces Draper, the 15th seed and Kokkinakis’ conqueror, on Margaret Court Arena on Friday.

Watch as Kokkinakis receives warning from umpire for whacking ball into crowd

Video credit: TNT Sports

"This doesn't look good," commentator Adam Peacock. "Because Kokkinakis is going over to the other side of the net to shake hands. That's the end of that.

"Kokkinakis doesn't want to risk it anymore. Understandably so. He's got his livelihood to think about over the next couple of months, and hopefully everything is OK and he's back on court really quickly.

"But there's no repeat of the doubles heroics of a few years ago at the Australian Open for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, and Duckworth and Vukic are the beneficiaries."

"No surprise, really," said co-commentator Josh Eagle.

"The surprise was that they stayed out there as long as they did, given that they were serving at below half pace. You just don't want any long-term damage either.

"A smart move, you would think, for Thanasi. He looks shattered, he looks heartbroken given what's transpired over the last 24 hours on the singles court. Disappointment for Thanasi, and we certainly wish him all the very best."

Duckworth and Vukic therefore advance with a walkover into the second round of the men's doubles, where they will play another Australian pair, Luke Saville and Li Tu.