Nick Kyrgios has zero regrets about pulling himself out of the Australian Open wildcard contention as the world No. 671 admits he is not sure if he could even go through a one full five-set match.
When the Australian kicked off his 2026 season in Brisbane last week, he was still waiting to see if he would receive one of the remaining three wildcards for the Happy Slam.
In his first Tour match since March, Kyrgios was bounced 3-6 4-6 by Aleksandar Kovacevic in the Brisbane first round. After losing early in Brisbane, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist announced that he wouldn't be playing singles at the Australian Open.
Had the current world No. 671 decided to play singles in Melbourne but didn't get a wildcard, he would have needed to go through qualifying.
On Tuesday, Kyrgios made a stop in Kooyong for an exhibition singles match. And he edged out Zhang Zhizhen 6-3 4-6 11-9 at the Kooyong Classic.
In Kooyong, the seven-time ATP champion fully approved Stan Wawrinka's Australian Open wildcard and also discussed his own decision.
Kyrgios: I wouldn't be fair of me to have so many doubts and still go out there and play
"Someone like Stan, who's played three or four competitive matches in the United Cup, all at a super high level, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he deserves it. And it just wouldn't be fair of me to have so many doubts physically to go out there and play some of the best players in the world in the best-of-five and not even be sure that I could back up one round," the 30-year-old said on Channel Nine.
Kyrgios played only one matches across the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to knee and wrist surgeries. Last year, he was again troubled by wrist and knee issues.
Despite his Australian Open singles withdrawal, Kyrgios will still get some action at Melbourne Park as he is slated to play doubles with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
