Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he will not play singles at the Australian Open and says the decision was his to make.
The home favourite did not receive a men’s singles wildcard and told fans he has chosen to prioritise doubles in Melbourne while veteran Stan Wawrinka receives a farewell entry into the main draw.
Kyrgios Declines Singles Shot At Home Major
“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.”
Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios posted on Instagram that, “After some good conversations with Tennis Australia, I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s Australian Open,” saying the singles spot would be better used by someone prepared to go deep at Melbourne Park.
The 30-year-old’s singles availability has been limited by injuries and selective scheduling, leaving him down at 670 in the world after playing just seven singles matches on the ATP Tour across three years.
Even with his limited singles activity Kyrgios has kept himself in the headlines, beating Aryna Sabalenka in last month’s Battle of the Sexes exhibition before losing in straight sets in the opening round at the Brisbane International this week.
Why Singles Was The Hard Call
Five-set Grand Slam matches are physically demanding and the decision to avoid them this year reflects a long game view for Kyrgios, who wants to preserve his health and extend his time contesting the events he truly aims to win.
Rather than stretching himself in a best-of-five singles draw he will centre his efforts on doubles, a discipline where he can still produce headline performances without the same load that comes with consecutive long singles matches.
Kyrgios has history in the doubles court, most notably winning the Australian Open doubles title in 2022 alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, and that partnership gives him a ready route back to meaningful Grand Slam court time this January.
Wawrinka Receives Farewell Wildcard, Tournament Notes
Meanwhile the tournament committee awarded a main draw wildcard to Stan Wawrinka, a former champion who will use the Australian Open as part of his announced final season on tour in 2026.
Wawrinka, who is now 40 years old and ranked 156, said: “Winning the Australian Open in 2014, my first Grand Slam title, is an absolute career highlight for me, so I’m incredibly grateful to receive this wildcard,” reflecting on his 2014 triumph.
He added, “To have the chance to play the Australian Open at the beginning of my final year on tour means the world to me,” waving a respectful goodbye to a major site of his career highs.
Kyrgios closed his Instagram note with a forward-looking line for fans, writing, “It’s all building blocks and I’ll be back next year and pumped to compete. See you out there,” promising a return to singles ambitions when he feels ready.
With the Australian Open starting on Sunday 18 January, the main draw will miss Kyrgios’s singles fire this year, but doubles fans can still expect an electric presence from the local star in Melbourne Park.
For now Kyrgios has chosen to hand his singles opportunity to someone prepared to chase that moment, and he will conserve energy while keeping his local legacy intact by competing where he believes he can contribute most this week.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
