Nick Kyrgios' Australian Open farewell could be at risk after his doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, raised concerns about his fitness to compete in their opening match in Melbourne.
Kyrgios' singles exit after long absence
Kyrgios, 29, made his return to competitive tennis after more than 18 months out due to wrist surgery in 2023. However, his return to the singles draw ended in disappointment, with a 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) loss to Britain's Jacob Fearnley. The defeat meant Kyrgios was eliminated from the tournament, with Fearnley progressing to the third round in his Grand Slam debut.
This match may also signal the end of Kyrgios' singles career at the Australian Open. After the loss, the Australian hinted that this could be his last time competing in the singles event on home soil, a painful conclusion to his journey at Melbourne Park.
Doubles match in doubt
Kyrgios is scheduled to play next in the doubles draw, partnering with close friend and fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. The duo, who won the 2022 Australian Open doubles title together, are set to face fellow Australians James Duckworth and Alexander Vukic. However, Kokkinakis has expressed concerns about his ability to play, potentially sidelining Kyrgios' swansong.
"I feel like I'm letting him Kyrgios down, letting people down. But yeah, I don't know," Kokkinakis said on Tuesday when asked about playing in the doubles. "I won't be able to lift my arm tomorrow, so we'll see. Unless we're both playing with underarm serves, it's looking pretty unlikely."
Kokkinakis' injury struggles
Kokkinakis, 28, recently endured a heart-wrenching loss to British No. 1 Jack Draper in the second round, falling 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. This defeat marked the seventh time he has failed to advance past the second round in the singles at his home Grand Slam.
After the loss, Kokkinakis opened up about the chronic pectoral injury that has hindered his career. Despite extensive efforts to treat the issue, including avoiding surgery, Kokkinakis continues to struggle with scar tissue that affects his ability to play consecutive high-level matches.
"There’s a tear, for sure. I’m playing with a crazy amount of scar tissue in there," Kokkinakis explained. "It’s something that every time I show a physio or a doctor, they’re taken back by it. It’s the reason why I can’t back up big matches."
A frustrating injury
Kokkinakis went on to explain that while the rest of his body is in good shape, the lingering injury has prevented him from achieving his goals. "It’s very deflating," he said. "I’ve had a pretty bad pectoral tear there for a while. There’s a lot of scar tissue build-up. Essentially, I can’t play back-to-back intense matches no matter how much I train for it and try it."
For now, it remains uncertain whether the duo will compete together in their doubles match, adding a layer of uncertainty to Kyrgios’ potential Australian Open swansong.