TENNIS: Kyrgios says he won't play in singles at Australian Open

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios announced on Friday that he will not compete in the singles competition at this month’s Australian Open, saying he is not yet ready for the demands of five-set matches.

The 30-year-old Australian, who reached the quarterfinals of his home Grand Slam in 2015 but has struggled with a series of injuries in recent seasons, will only participate in the doubles event at Melbourne Park, which begins on January 18.

“After some good conversations with Tennis Australia, I’ve made the call to focus on doubles for this year’s AO,” Kyrgios wrote on social media.

“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. It’s all building blocks, and I’ll be back next year, pumped to compete. See you out there.”

Kyrgios has undergone wrist reconstruction and two knee surgeries since losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final. He is currently ranked 670th in the world.

He was defeated in straight sets by Aleksander Kovacevic in the opening round of the Brisbane Open on Tuesday and would have needed a wildcard to play singles at Melbourne Park.

Kyrgios previously won the men’s doubles at the Australian Open in 2022, partnering with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis to defeat fellow Australians Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in straight sets in the final.

-Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters