In a significant announcement ahead of the season's first Grand Slam, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he will not compete in the singles draw at the 2026 Australian Open.
A Strategic Decision for Long-Term Health
The polarising but talented player, a former Wimbledon finalist, revealed his choice via Instagram on Friday, January 9. Kyrgios stated that after discussions with Tennis Australia, he decided to forgo a Wildcard entry or the qualifying rounds to instead concentrate on the doubles competition. His partner will be fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, with whom he famously clinched the Australian Open doubles title in 2022.
The 30-year-old cited the physical demands of best-of-five-set matches as the primary reason for his singles withdrawal. "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," Kyrgios explained in his social media post.
Building Back After a String of Setbacks
This decision follows Kyrgios's recent return to competitive singles at the Brisbane International, where he suffered a straight-sets defeat to American Aleksander Kovacevic (6-3, 6-4). That match marked his comeback after an injury-plagued two years spanning 2024 and 2025.
Since his memorable run to the 2022 Wimbledon final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios has endured a brutal series of medical procedures. His rehabilitation has included a major wrist reconstruction and two separate surgeries on his knee.
His return to the public eye also included a controversial exhibition match, a "Battle of the Sexes" reboot, where he defeated Women's World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on a modified court.
Focus on the Future and Giving Others a Chance
Despite stepping back from singles, Kyrgios's passion for his home Grand Slam remains undimmed. He expressed a desire to see his spot go to a fully prepared competitor. "This tournament means everything to me, but I'd rather give my spot to someone who's ready to make their moment count," he said.
He ended his announcement on an optimistic note, framing this year as part of a longer comeback journey. "It's all building blocks, and I'll be back next year and pumped to compete," Kyrgios assured his fans.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, January 18, with qualifying matches starting the day before. All eyes will now be on the dynamic duo of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis as they aim to recapture their doubles magic on Melbourne's famous blue courts.
