Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has announced that he will not compete in the singles draw of the Australian Open, opting instead to focus on the doubles competition.

The 30-year-old revealed that while he has returned to the court, he is not yet physically ready for the demands of five-set singles matches. Kyrgios was expected to be among the final wildcard recipients from Tennis Australia, but chose to step aside just days before the tournament begins on January 18.

Kyrgios will now compete in the men’s doubles event alongside fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, with whom he won the Australian Open men’s doubles title in 2022.

Explaining his decision in a message shared on social media, Kyrgios said he wanted to give his singles wildcard to a player better prepared to seize the opportunity.

“I’m fit and back on court, but five-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,” Kyrgios wrote.

Injury Struggles Continue

Since losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios has endured a difficult period marked by wrist reconstruction surgery and two knee operations. These setbacks have seen his world ranking slide to around 670, limiting his match fitness and competitive rhythm.

Earlier this week, Kyrgios suffered a straight-sets loss to Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round of the Brisbane Open, raising doubts about his readiness for singles competition at Melbourne Park.

Looking Ahead

While he will miss out on singles action this year, Kyrgios has expressed optimism about the future, calling the decision part of his long-term recovery plan. Fans will now look forward to seeing him back in action in doubles, where he has previously enjoyed major success on home soil.