Kyrgios confirms he will miss 2024 Australian Open

The Australian missed almost all of this season, having been sidelined by wrist, knee and foot injuries throughout the year

Nick Kyrgios, competes in Tokyo, 2022 © AF / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

December 9, 2023

Nick Kyrgios has confirmed that he will not play at next year’s Australian Open due to ongoing fitness and injury concerns.

Kyrgios was out of action for most of this year, as a combination of wrist, knee and foot injuries decimated his season. He was able to make a brief comeback during the grass-court swing in June, losing to Wu Yibing in Stuttgart in what was his only match of the year, before a wrist ligament problem then ruled him out of Wimbledon.

Given that his absence from tour has been so extensive, there was already an acknowledgement from Kyrgios that the first Grand Slam of the new 2024 season would likely come too soon for him, which has now confirmed by the Australian via his OnlyFans page.

Nick Kyrgios announces on his Only Fans that he will not play the 2024 Australian Open, as he’s still not back to full health. 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/tBnghy7kxq
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 8, 2023

“I want to make sure my body is going to have the time it needs to come back,” Kyrgios said.

“This is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open.

“Obviously, heart-breaking. I’ve had so many amazing memories there, and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right, and I need a little more time.”

Kyrgios added that he would “still be around, commentating matches” during his home major, comments that come after the tournament’s boss Craig Tiley said that Kyrgios would be there “in some form.”

The 28-year-old enjoyed his career-best season in 2022, winning the men’s doubles title in Melbourne with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, before reaching the Wimbledon final in a highly successful and memorable summer that also saw Kyrgios win the Citi Open in Washington DC.

Kyrgios wins the 2022 Citi Open title

After reaching the last eight at the US Open in the September of that year, Kyrgios’ season ended in a knee injury that would rule him out of the 2023 Australian Open. He underwent surgery on that issue, before a foot and then wrist injury meant he missed both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon respectively.

After essentially a whole year off tour, Kyrgios’ future has been put in some doubt. However, there have been encouraging words from the Australian in recent weeks, who remains adamant to return to the match court.

Although a tough decision, missing the Australian Open may indicate that Kyrgios is not willing to put his longer term career prospects in jeopardy by rushing a comeback, as a return to his highest level remains the ultimate target.