Former world number 13 Nick Kyrgios is set to participate in the upcoming Australian Open after being named in the final list. The 29-year-old, once regarded as the best Australian player in men’s tennis in the singles category, has been out of action for nearly two years because of fitness concerns.
Kyrgios will return to the court in the upcoming Australian Open. He has been awarded a direct spot in the main round based on his protected rankings. He is among the six players awarded a spot in the main draw based on protected rankings. He is one of the 10 Australian players certain to feature in the main draw of the competition. The highest-ranked player Australian player in the men’s singles category will be Alex de Minaur
Other players who are set to play in the main round of the first Grand Slam of the year based on protected rankings are Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, America’s Reilly Opelka, Jenson Brooksby, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Dominic Stephan Stricker of Switzerland.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner will be the top-seeded player in the competition, which will begin on January 12 in Melbourne. The 23-year-old, who is also the world number one, will defend his crown in the competition. He lifted it last year after beating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Kyrgios does not have a great record while playing in the Australian Open. His best outing in the competition came in the 2015 edition, where he was knocked out after losing in the quarterfinal to the former world number one Andy Murray in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. His last appearance in the competition was in 2022, where he was knocked out after losing in the second round to Medvedev with a score of 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.