Nick Kyrgios Faces a Hard Truth at the Australian Open
Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he will not compete in singles at the 2026 Australian Open, admitting his body is still not ready to withstand the physical demands of five-set tennis. Instead, the mercurial Australian will focus solely on the doubles draw at Melbourne Park, partnering longtime friend and fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation around Kyrgios’ fitness and his chances of receiving a late singles wild card from Tennis Australia. While local media had tipped him as a strong candidate, Kyrgios revealed that after discussions with officials, he felt stepping aside was the right decision — both for his own health and for the integrity of the competition.
“This tournament means everything to me,” Kyrgios said in a social media post on Friday. “But five setters are a different beast, and I’m not quite ready to go the distance yet. I’d rather give my spot to someone who’s ready to make their moment count.”
Kyrgios’ decision comes after another reminder of how far he still has to go physically. His most recent singles outing lasted just 66 minutes — a straight-sets loss to Aleksandar Kovacevic at the Brisbane International earlier this week. While the match showed flashes of his trademark shot-making, it also highlighted the reality that his body is still adapting after years of injury setbacks.
Multiple wrist and knee surgeries have restricted Kyrgios to just seven singles tour matches over the past three seasons, sending his ranking tumbling to around 670. Though he insists he is “fit and back on court,” the grind of best-of-five matches at a Grand Slam remains a step too far — for now.
“It’s all building blocks,” Kyrgios added. “I’ll be back next year and pumped to compete.”
Later on Friday, Tennis Australia confirmed that the remaining men’s singles wild cards had been awarded to 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka and Australians Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell.
For Wawrinka, now 40, the wild card carries added emotional weight. The Swiss veteran has already announced that 2026 will be his final season on tour, making his return to Melbourne Park one last opportunity to revisit the scene of one of his greatest triumphs.
Kyrgios was quick to shut down any sense of disappointment over missing out, stressing that the decision was his own and rooted in realism rather than regret.
“After some good conversations with TA, I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO,” he wrote. “I’m not here for shortcuts — I want to come back properly.”
Nick Kyrgios Steps Back from Singles at the Australian Open: 1 Honest Decision as His Body Isn’t Ready for the Five-Set Battle
While singles is off the agenda, Kyrgios will still be a major drawcard at Melbourne Park through the doubles event. Reuniting with Kokkinakis, the duo famously captured the Australian Open doubles title in 2022, feeding off the crowd’s energy and creating some of the most electric atmospheres the tournament has seen in recent years.
Their return instantly adds intrigue to the doubles draw, with fans eager to see whether the “Special Ks” can recreate that magic — even as Kyrgios continues to manage his workload carefully.
Their return instantly adds intrigue to the doubles draw, with fans eager to see whether the “Special Ks” can recreate that magic — even as Kyrgios continues to manage his workload carefully.
Kyrgios’ absence from singles also underlines how precarious his career trajectory has become. Not long ago, he was a Wimbledon finalist and one of the most dangerous players in the world on his day. More recently, his appearances have been sporadic, including exhibition events such as the widely discussed “Battle of the Sexes” match against Aryna Sabalenka.
For now, the Australian Open will move on without him in singles — but not without his presence entirely. Kyrgios remains determined to rebuild patiently rather than rush back before his body is ready.
“I’d rather come back strong than come back too soon,” he said. “This isn’t the end — it’s just part of the process.”
As the 2026 Australian Open begins on January 18, Kyrgios’ decision may disappoint fans hoping for a headline-grabbing singles run. But for the player himself, it represents a rare show of restraint — and perhaps the smartest step yet in a long, winding comeback journey.
