Kyrgios withdraws from Aussie Open singles over fitness

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios announced on Friday that he will not participate in the singles competition at this month's Australian Open, revealing that he is not yet ready to play five-set matches.

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

Having dropped to No. 670 in the world rankings, Kyrgios would have needed a wildcard to compete in the singles draw.

In a statement shared on social media, Kyrgios explained that he was prioritising his recovery over singles play.

"After some good conversations with Tennis Australia, I've made the call to focus on doubles for this year's Australian Open," the Australian wrote.

"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 and pumped to compete. See you out there."

Since losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, Kyrgios has undergone two knee surgeries and a wrist operation.

In his first-round match at the Brisbane Open on Tuesday, he was defeated in straight sets by Aleksander Kovacevic. In 2022, Kyrgios and fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis triumphed in the men's doubles at the Australian Open.