If this was the last Australian Open singles match of Nick Kyrgios' career — and, to be sure, it's hard to know with him, no matter what came out at his news conference — the big-hitting, big-talking tennis player went out rather quietly Monday night.

Nick Kyrgios hinted at retirement while talking to reporters after his first round loss in a return to the tennis court at the Australian Open on Monday, January 13.

After surgery and close to 16 months of around-the-clock rehabilitation, things began looking up for Nick Kyrgios. And yet here he is, dealing with pain once more.

The 29-year-old’s Australian Open return was short-lived — and he warned it could be his last singles match in his homeland.

Nick Kyrgios has dropped a bomb surrounding his future at the Australian Open and it is not what fans want to hear. Nick Kyrgios says he can’t see himself playing men’s singles again at the Australian Open. The 29-year-old was knocked out in the first round of the tournament on Monday by Brit Jacob Fearnley (7-6, 6-3, 7-6).

Nick Kyrgios' Australian Open return ended in defeat. The former world No. 13 was playing his first Grand Slam match since the 2022 US Open. He came back from a break down in the third set but suffered a 7-6 (3) 6-3 7-6 (2) defeat at the hands of Jacob Fearnley.

Down here, it’s all about their own tennis yin and yang. One is a top 10-player who will do whatever he can to avoid controversy, while dedicating every ounce of his energy to the sport. The other is an unranked unicorn,