Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he will not compete in the singles draw at this month’s Australian Open, opting instead to focus on the doubles as he continues his recovery from injury.

The 30-year-old said on Friday he is not yet ready to cope with the physical demands of five-set matches. Kyrgios, who reached the quarter-finals at his home Grand Slam in 2015, has endured a difficult few seasons due to persistent injury problems.

Currently ranked world No. 670, Kyrgios would have required a wildcard to enter the singles competition at Melbourne Park, which begins on January 18. After discussions with Tennis Australia, he chose to step aside and allow the opportunity to go to another player.

“After some good conversations with TA, 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 and pumped to compete.”

Kyrgios has undergone wrist reconstruction surgery and two knee operations since losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic. Earlier this week, he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round of the Brisbane Open.

Despite his singles withdrawal, Kyrgios will still feature in the doubles, a format in which he has enjoyed notable success. He won the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open in 2022 alongside fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Tennis Australia also confirmed on Friday that Stan Wawrinka has been awarded a wildcard for what will be his final appearance at the tournament. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, famously claimed his first major title at Melbourne Park in 2014.

“Winning the Australian Open in 2014, my first Grand Slam title, is an absolute career highlight for me, so I’m incredibly grateful to receive this wildcard,” Wawrinka said. “To have the chance to play the Australian Open at the beginning of my final year on tour means the world to me.”

Australians Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell were also among the wildcard recipients.