Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been left off the initial list of wildcard entries for next month's Australian Open, with four local players instead securing their places in the main draw for the grand slam.
Wildcard Announcement and Kyrgios's Status
The announcement on Monday revealed that Priscilla Hon, Rinky Hijikata, Talia Gibson, and Taylah Preston are the first Australians to receive wildcard berths for the tournament starting on January 18. This news comes just a day after Kyrgios accepted a wildcard to play at the Brisbane International, which runs from January 4-11.
However, Tennis Australia has indicated that more wildcards will be announced before the main draw begins. Kyrgios is all but guaranteed to receive one of these later invitations, provided his health permits.
"We have been in touch around what he’s doing in the summer and he’s obviously got some plans to play," Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said earlier in December. "But it’s going to depend on where his health is. He’s indicated there are a few places that he wants to play, so we haven’t finalised those yet."
Tiley added that the organisation would welcome the polarising player back anytime due to the significant crowd interest and attention he generates.
Kyrgios's Road to Recovery
The need for a wildcard stems from Kyrgios's dramatic slide in the rankings following an extended period of injury. He has played only six ATP Tour matches in over three years, battling persistent issues that led to four rounds of surgery on his knee and wrist.
His world ranking has plummeted to No. 668, and his injury-protected ranking of No. 21 expired in November. This expiration means he can no longer gain direct entry into tournaments on medical grounds, making wildcards his only path into major events like the Australian Open.
Kyrgios has recently made a tentative return to the court, participating in a series of exhibition matches in the United States and India.
Meet the Australian Wildcard Recipients
Priscilla Hon, 27, headlines the group after a breakthrough 2024 season. She reached the third round of a grand slam for the first time at the US Open, upsetting 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova. Hon also broke into the world's top 100 for the first time, peaking at No. 94 in October, and ended the year ranked 119th. Her season included qualifying for Wimbledon, reaching the third round of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing, and winning two ITF W75 titles.
"I pushed my body hard to try and avoid needing one (a wildcard), but I’m very thankful," Hon said. "I’m proud to represent Australia and can’t wait to see how far I can go."
Rinky Hijikata is set for his fourth consecutive Australian Open main draw appearance. His 2024 season highlight was a run to the Wimbledon men's doubles final with Dutch partner David Pel.
Taylah Preston enjoyed a strong finish to the year, winning 31 of her last 37 matches. This surge propelled her ranking from 259 to a career-high of 199.
Talia Gibson earned her first call-up to Australia's Billie Jean Cup team this year and saw her ranking climb as high as 105 in August. She also celebrated her first grand slam main draw victory at the 2024 Australian Open.
In addition to the local players, French competitors Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Kyrian Jacquet also received wildcard entries. With these announcements, Australia now has eight men and eight women in the Open singles draws.
