Nick Kyrgios reveals plan to shun singles at Australian Open and says it's 'unfair' to expect his past level of performances after injuries
By Becky Hart
Published 09/01/2026 at 10:12 GMT
React to this story
Nick Kyrgios said he will not accept a wild card into this year's Australian Open singles draw and will instead concentrate on competing in the doubles. Kyrgios, who has already garnered plenty of recent headlines from his ‘Battle of the Sexes’ win against Aryna Sabalenka, does not feel ready for best of five set tennis at the first Grand Slam of the season after a long list of injuries.
'I love revenge' - Sabalenka keen to rematch Kyrgios in Battle of the Sexes
Video credit: SNTV
Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he will not be part of the men’s singles draw at this month's Australian Open.
The home star and former Grand Slam finalist has been beset by injuries over the past three seasons, limiting him to few singles matches.
Having been beaten by world No 58 Aleksandar Kovacevic in Brisbane earlier this week in his first ATP Tour match for nine months, Kyrgios has now confirmed he will not accept any wild card invitation for the main draw in Melbourne.
The 30-year-old still intends to compete in the doubles at the first Grand Slam of the season and is expected to once again team up with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, in a partnership dubbed 'the special Ks'. The duo have played together in Brisbane this week.
The Australian Open begins on January 18 and is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"After some good conversations with TA [Tennis Australia], I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO," Kyrgios posted on Instagram.
"I’m fit and back on court, but 5-setters are a different beast and I’m not quite ready to go the distance yet.
"This tournament means everything to me but I’d rather give my spot to someone who’s ready to make their moment count. It’s all building blocks and I’ll be back next year and pumped to compete. See you out there."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/01/03/image-487a28e2-b00d-4f90-9c4f-216234de8ec4-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘Women's tennis stands on its own’ – Swiatek questions need for 'Battle of the Sexes'
Video credit: SNTV
Kyrgios has already generated plenty of headlines this season following his victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition match.
But he lost 6-3 6-4 to Kovacevic in the first round in Brisbane with the match lasting only 66 minutes.
Kyrgios won one singles match last season, a first-round victory in Miami. At last year's Australian Open he was defeated in the first round by Britain’s Jacob Fearnley and also lost in Indian Wells before that solitary win in Miami.
- Sabalenka reveals 2026 schedule plans ahead of Australian Open, as four-time Grand Slam winner set to swerve rules
- 'It felt alien' - Raducanu reflects on demanding return after two-month lay-off
Having had multiple surgeries since making the Wimbledon final back in 2022, Kyrgios has accepted that his best days are likely behind him.
"I had a wrist reconstruction and two knee operations. I’m never going to be [the same player]. I think it’s unfair to [expect that]," he said after his loss in Brisbane, as reported by news.com.au.
"I use Thanasi [Kokkinakis]as an example, or myself as an example, or [Juan Martin] del Potro or [Dominic] Thiem or [Kei] Nishikori.
"You look at some of these people who were at the top of the game competing for Grand Slams, and then you have parts of your body that just fail, and can’t take the load of being at that top level.
"That’s what happens. It’s so hard for me to go out there, even on the practice court sometimes. There was a point in my life in ’22, when I was winning multiple titles in the year.
"There was actually, like, a delusion. I genuinely thought I was the best player in the world. I genuinely thought I was unbeatable.
"I’d go out on court, and I thought no one can genuinely beat me. You actually have that confidence and a delusion that you are that person.
"After you have these surgeries … you don’t have that belief anymore."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/01/09/image-156cafa6-5658-4596-8f22-a7ccba44184e.jpeg)
Australia's Nick Kyrgios (L) and Thanasi Kokkinakis discuss tactics as they play against France's Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul during their men's doubles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament
Image credit: Getty Images
When he lost last year in Melbourne, Kyrgios hinted that his days of playing in the singles, and perhaps tennis full stop, were over.
He stated that he "can’t really see myself playing singles again" at Melbourne Park.
But his social media message clearly states that he wants to be "back next year," indicating that his current desire is to return to a competitive condition.
Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement