Nick Kyrgios was widely expected to make his long-awaited return to Australian Open singles, but plans have changed. 🇦🇺🎾After battling injuries over the past few years, Kyrgios has decided to focus solely on doubles, prioritizing his health and long-term recovery. It’s a cautious but confident move as he continues his comeback on his own terms.

After reaching a Wimbledon final and backing it up with a US Open quarter-final in 2022, Nick Kyrgios looked set to cement his place among the game’s elite. 🇦🇺🎾 However, his momentum was derailed by a series of injury setbacks, including persistent wrist and knee problems, which kept him off the court for long stretches.

Several comeback attempts last year raised questions about how much he had left, but toward the end of the season, Kyrgios finally managed to put together a run of matches, even if they were mainly exhibition events. His official return to the ATP Tour came at the Brisbane International, where he was beaten by Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets — another step in a challenging but determined comeback journey. 💪🔥

In the end, Nick Kyrgios himself ruled out the possibility of accepting a wildcard for his home tournament. The Australian has been clear that he will only step onto the court if he genuinely feels competitive, and at this stage, he believes that is not yet the case. Rather than taking up one of the limited eight wildcard spots, Kyrgios chose to step aside, ensuring opportunities remain open for players who are fully ready to compete. 🎾🇦🇺

One of the players benefiting from that decision is 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka, who is competing in what is expected to be his final season on tour. The Swiss legend showed he is still more than competitive at the United Cup, helping Switzerland reach the final before falling to Poland. Kyrgios openly backed Wawrinka’s inclusion, saying there was “absolutely no doubt” he deserved a spot after playing several high-level matches. He added that it wouldn’t be fair to take a wildcard himself while still having physical doubts, especially when facing the world’s best in grueling best-of-five-set battles. 🎾🔥.

Nick Kyrgios will not compete in the 2026 Australian Open singles event