Nick Kyrgios Takes Major Career Decision Ahead of Australian Open: “See You Out There”
Former World No.13 Nick Kyrgios began his campaign for the 2026 season at the Brisbane International.
Follow Us
Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Tennis Australia)
🔍 Explore this post with:
Nick Kyrgios took to his Instagram to announce that he will not be competing in singles at this year’s Australian Open. His decision came following his 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Aleksandar Kovacevic, in what was also his first singles match since the 2025 Miami Open second round clash with Karen Khachanov.
Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram story that after his conversations with Tennis Australia, he chose not to take a wild card to enter the singles draw. But the Aussie also wrote that he will be back next year, which only means that he will not be hanging up his racket at least this year.
After some good conversations with TA, I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO. 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.
Nick Kyrgios wrote
Kyrgios made his comeback after an 18-month injury hiatus at the Brisbane International last year. He later featured at the Australian Open, where he suffered a straight-set defeat at the hands of Jacob Fearnley.
Check out his post here:
As per News.com.au, Kyrgios spoke with Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley prior to his defeat to Kovacevic. And after his defeat, he confirmed that he won’t be playing the home Major.
But Kyrgios will be playing doubles. In Brisbane, he paired up with fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, but their run ended in the second round. It was with Kokkinakis that Kyrgios won the Australian Open doubles in 2022.
In 2022, Kyrgios reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon but lost it to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Since that defeat, the 30-year-old underwent multiple surgeries, including wrist reconstruction.
Nick Kyrgios says it’s unfair to expect that he will be the same player again after major surgeries
Following his defeat to Aleksandar Kovacevic, Nick Kyrgios admitted that when he was in his prime, he was in a delusion that he was invincible, but he doesn’t have the same belief anymore because of the career-threatening injuries. At the press conference, Kyrgios cited the examples of various players whose careers were marred by injuries.
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]. I use Thanasi 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 courts sometimes.
The last time Kyrgios made a singles final was at the 2022 Citi Open, which he won by defeating Yoshihito Nishioka. Apart from his runner-up finish at Wimbledon, Kyrgios has never made a Grand Slam semifinal, last making a deep run at the 2022 US Open. Since that match, Kyrgios has featured in just one Major in singles, at the Australian Open last year.
Prior to playing official matches in 2026, Kyrgios clashed with women’s World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on December 28 in the Battle of the Sexes, defeating the four-time Grand Slam singles champion with a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)