For years, Melbourne Park has been Nick Kyrgios’ theatre - sometimes chaotic, sometimes brilliant, always unforgettable. But this summer, the stage lights dim just a little. The former Wimbledon finalist, one of tennis’ most electric and unpredictable performers, confirmed he will not step onto the court for singles duty at the 2026 Australian Open. Not this year. Not yet.

But this wasn’t a farewell. It was a promise. “After some good conversations with TA (Tennis Australia), I've made the call to focus on doubles for this year's AO,” he shared in a heartfelt note on his IG stories. Further on, Kyrgios went on to add, “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.”

Nick Kyrgios’ return in Brisbane earlier this week was supposed to be the first chapter of a revival story. But instead, it felt like a reminder of everything he’d been through. His straight-sets defeat to Aleksander Kovacevic exposed the gap between desire and durability. It wasn’t his flair or shotmaking that failed him - those gifts never left. It was the body that betrayed him again, a body that has carried years of turbulence and surgeries. A wrist reconstruction. Two knee operations. Only five matches played in all of 2025. Just one match in both 2023 and 2024.

A timeline defined not by wins or losses, but by scans, rehabs, and recoveries. Since his thrilling run to the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios has lived in a cycle of hope, setback, recovery, and restart. 

Last year, Nick Kyrgios was defeated in the first round of the AO by British star Jacob Fearnley in a three-set thriller in the first round itself. This year, although he was seeking a singles wildcard for the 2026 AO, but as per Ben Rothenberg, “Nick Kyrgios is not getting an Australian Open singles wildcard after all, which he frames as his own choice in this statement.” So, surely there will be a few question marks on whether this could possibly be one of the main reasons behind his withdrawal from the singles event. But...

Kyrgios had made one thing pretty clear in his message. “It's all building blocks, and I'll be back next year and pumped to compete. See you out there.”

The 2026 Australian Open may proceed without its most unpredictable showman, but the story is far from over. Nick Kyrgios has stepped away not with sadness, but with certainty. He’ll be back. And 2027 suddenly feels a lot closer. However, the biggest concern for him at the moment could be his form in the doubles.

Nick Kyrgios makes an exit from Brisbane International after losing the doubles match

For a moment, Pat Rafter Arena felt like it was turning back time. Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis (2022 AO doubles champion) - the beloved ‘Special Ks’ - were back together, grinning, fist-bumping, feeding off the crowd and each other’s energy just like the summer of 2022. But as the Brisbane night unfolded, the nostalgia wasn’t enough to carry them through.

Kyrgios, already coming off a disappointing singles loss, exited the Brisbane International once again - this time on the double court - after a roller-coaster 6-0, 1-6, 10-6 defeat to sixth seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul. 

The first set was nothing short of a nightmare. The French duo came out firing, exposing rust, hesitation, and misconception from a pair still rediscovering their rhythm after years disrupted by injuries. But they came back strongly in the second set. They carried the momentum into the match tiebreak… until another rough start put them in a 0-5 hole.

During the changeover, Nick Kyrgios turned motivator, offering words that perfectly captured their identity as a team: “When we overthink things, it's not us. We play on instinct, then we feel it. Just play on instinct.”

But despite all these, they eventually went down to the French duo in this R16 encounter. Reboul shared a few words for the Aussies after the match. He said, “A little word for Kokkinakis and Kyrgios -- they've had a lot of injuries, so very happy to see them in the tournament again, and I hope we will have many other battles.”

Nick Kyrgios took a lot of positives from this result. He added, “I want to play a lot of doubles this year with Thanasi, and I think this was a good indicator. A couple of points here and there in that match decided it. It sucks that we lost that match because I feel like we were the better team.”

They defeated Matthew Ebden and Rajeev Ram in the first match by 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. And then yet another three-setter! Even Kokkinakis felt “pretty good” about their bodies as they embarked on comebacks from long-term injuries. 

Be it singles or doubles, do you think Nick Kyrgios can win a title this season? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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