Nick Kyrgios is set to return to the ATP Tour at the Brisbane International, but his Australian Open status is still up in the air.
Kyrgios will play singles and doubles in Brisbane, which will act as his first ATP Tour appearance since the Miami Open in 2025.
The Australian played just four times on the ATP Tour in 2025, although he did also play some high-profile exhibition contests, and he’s set for the Battle of the Sexes against Aryna Sabalenka on 28 December.
Kyrgios is yet to receive a wild card from the Australian Open, and Aussie tennis icon Mark Philippoussis has revealed two reasons why the Grand Slams might be holding out on the star.
Mark Philippoussis is unsure if Nick Kyrgios deserves an Australian Open wild card
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Philippoussis weighed up the pros and cons of the Australian Open giving Kyrgios a wild card.
The two-time Grand Slam finalist believed his fitness and age could be the reason he doesn’t play his home Grand Slam.
What would be a successful season for Nick Kyrgios in 2026?
“I see the upside as far as the eyes being on him there. If he can go on and play 100 per cent and loses, that’s OK. If he’s able to compete and feel good and he loses, that’s no problem at all.
“But if he goes out there and can’t perform but brings in the crowd for a couple of hours, is that enough? It’s tough. I see both sides. I see the upside but also the downside as well.
Philippoussis questioned whether Kyrgios was physically up for the Australian Open following his long lay-off from the competitive game.
“You get a wildcard at a tournament and you don’t produce because physically you break down, it doesn’t look good. It’s not good for the tournament, it’s certainly not good for the player, so everything is a balancing act.
“I don’t know where his mind is at. I don’t know what he wants to do in his career. Does he want to give it one more go? How serious does he want to take it?
“I know watching him last year and even a couple of years ago, he couldn’t move – and it doesn’t matter how big that serve is if it comes back and you can’t move.”
Nick Kyrgios could steal the opportunity from a ‘hungry young Aussie kid’
Philippoussis also believes that Kyrgios’ wild card could better benefit a younger star more in need of the opportunity.
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“If you have got a hungry young Aussie kid who is coming up and give him an opportunity, he could win one or two matches to start off his career and he’s on the way. It’s not easy.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to be a tournament director where you have got to come up with these decisions.
“I think they can leave it until the last second and just see if he looks good. It’s a no-brainer if he looks good and hasn’t pulled up sore.”
Kyrgios was given a wild card for the Australian Open in 2025, but he was beaten in straight sets by Jacob Fearnley in the first round.
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