Nick Kyrgios says he “probably” played singles for the last time at the Australian Open after suffering a first-round defeat to Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in Melbourne.
Home favourite Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, was handicapped by an abdominal strain as Fearnley prevailed 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in two hours and 19 minutes on Monday.
Kyrgios, 29, was roared on by a partisan crowd as he played in his first Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open after recovering from chronic wrist and hip injuries.
“Realistically I can’t really see myself probably playing singles again here, so it was special,” Kyrgios said. “Like taking that in, it was pretty good.
“I didn’t want to just throw in the towel and walk off or retire. I was hurting physically. I respect my opponent. The fans waited hours to come see me play.
“Realistically I can’t see myself playing a singles match here again.”
Kyrgios plans to play doubles at Australian Open
Despite his injury, Kyrgios said he still intends to enter the doubles alongside compatriot and close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, who defied his own physical issues to win his first-round match on Monday.
“Yeah, me and Thanasi, I think we owe it to each other to go out there and play,” said Kyrgios, who won the 2022 doubles title in Melbourne alongside Kokkinakis.
“Obviously, I know that he’s a physical wreck most of the time, but he somehow pushes through. Props to him for getting through his match today.
“Yeah, but I guess we will play doubles. I’ll play doubles.”
While suggesting that 2025 is likely to be his final year on the tour competing in singles, Kyrgios said he remains confident that he can “make some noise” at Wimbledon, if he is healthy when the grass-court tournament begin at the end of June.
He said: “100 per cent, I’ll play the Grand Slams. I’ve got my protected ranking.
“Obviously, Wimbledon is a big one for me. I still feel like obviously, if I don’t have an abdominal strain, I feel when I sustained that five days before a Grand Slam, it’s not ideal.
“Hopefully, if my body’s feeling good, I’ll be able to make some noise at Wimbledon.”
Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and through the Sky Sports app.
Source : Sky Sports
