- Won’t accept a wildcard for men’s singles
- Knows his body can’t endure five set matches
Polarising tennis star Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he won’t feature in the men’s singles at the Australian Open, conceding he isn’t ‘quite ready to go the distance.’
Kyrgios, 30, is expected to play in the doubles with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.
‘After some good conversations with TA (Tennis Australia), I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO,’ Kyrgios wrote 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.’
Polarising tennis star Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he won’t feature in the men’s singles at the Australian Open, conceding he isn’t ‘quite ready to go the distance’
Kyrgios, 30, is expected to play in the doubles at Melbourne Park with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis (pictured right)
Kyrgios is currently ranked outside the top 600 – and he may need a number of wildcards to feature on the ATP circuit regularly in 2026.
Whether he takes to the court at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open remains to be seen.
The Canberra-raised star has won admirers in some quarters for his tenacity when it comes to playing through pain – but deep runs at Grand Slams are unlikely in the twilight of Kyrgios’ career.
‘My journey has been a bit different to the normal tennis player that flies under the radar; that is not constantly splattered all over the media and stuff like that,’ he told Code Sports.
‘When I play it’s not just going out there and playing tennis, it comes with an array of things that maybe I created, maybe I didn’t, I’m not sure. But it’s exhausting.’
Kyrgios recently featured in the controversial Battle of the Sexes exhibition match against women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
The Aussie never looked troubled in Dubai, winning in straight sets.
He also recently conceded the ‘sad reality’ that he will never be the player he was just three years ago after his latest ATP Tour singles comeback lasted barely an hour.
The former world No 13 was outgunned by American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3 6-4 in just 66 minutes in their Brisbane International first-round clash.
It was Kyrgios’s first Tour match since last March and only his seventh in three years after surgeries on his wrist and knees.
The Australian Open begins on January 18.
