Nick Kyrgios delivers bad news ahead of the 2026 Australian Open

Since suffering a serious injury and undergoing surgery, Nick Kyrgios has never regained his previous form.

"The wild horse" Nick Kyrgios has officially confirmed that he will not participate in the men’s singles at the 2026 Australian Open, admitting he is not yet ready for the grueling 5-set matches.

The Australian player stated he will only compete in the men’s doubles event, partnering with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis — the teammate who helped him win the men’s doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open. Kyrgios announced this decision on Instagram on January 9 after discussions with Tennis Australia.

"After some positive conversations, I have decided to focus on doubles at this year’s Australian Open.", Kyrgios wrote. "I have recovered and returned to training, but 5-set matches present a completely different challenge and I am not truly ready for those extended contests yet."

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist emphasized that the Australian Open holds special significance for him, but he wants to give his singles spot to players who are better prepared. "This is just a step in my comeback journey. I will return next year with full determination.", he shared.

Currently, Kyrgios is ranked outside the top 600 worldwide due to his long absence caused by injury. This means he may have to rely on wildcards to compete regularly on the ATP Tour in 2026. His participation in the remaining Grand Slams this year, such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon, or the US Open, remains uncertain.

The Canberra-born player was once admired for his resilient spirit despite injuries, but advancing deep in Grand Slam tournaments seems increasingly difficult in the later stages of his career. In an interview with Code Sports, Kyrgios admitted that media pressure and intense attention have made his journey very different and more exhausting compared to other players.

Recently, Kyrgios attracted attention by participating in the "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match against world No.1 female player Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai. Although not at his peak form, he still won comfortably in straight sets.

However, Kyrgios has acknowledged the harsh reality that it will be difficult to return to the top level he showed three years ago. In his most recent ATP Tour singles match, he was defeated 3-6, 4-6 by Aleksandar Kovacevic in just 66 minutes during the first round of the Brisbane International. That was only Kyrgios’s seventh match in three years following multiple wrist and knee surgeries.

This year’s Australian Open will officially begin on January 18, with qualifying rounds starting three days earlier.