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

Aleksandar Vukic has taken top-ranked Brit Jack Draper to the brink in the third round of the Australian Open before being edged in a fifth-set tiebreak.

Doubles tennis rarely receives much attention in the first week of a grand slam, but that's not the case at this year's Australian Open. Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios are set to team up at the AO for the first time since taking out the men's doubles in 2022.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, dubbed the Special Ks, have pulled the pin on their doubles campaign and walked off the court.

Nick Kyrgios has fuelled further discussion about the future of his tennis career as he said that he was "weighing up his options".

Kokkinakis has been struggling with a pectoral injury for some time, and was forced to withdraw from the Adelaide International last week. He managed to win his first-round singles match at the Australian Open, before suffering a heartbreaking five-set loss in the second round.

The apologetic Aussie was plainly ‘shattered’ to tell his great mate Nick Kyrgios it was all over. Thanasi Kokkinakis’ dream of repeating his stunning Australian Open doubles success with Nick Kyrgios has been dashed by his debilitating pectoral muscle injury.

Both Kyrgios (strained abdominal muscle) and Kokkinakis (right shoulder trouble) came into the match dealing with physical issues.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis took the Australian Open by storm in 2022.Creating unprecedented interest in the men doubles event, 'Special K' stormed to an unlikely grand slam triumph at Melbourne Park.With all matches but the final on Kia Arena, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis played in front of packed crowds with a vibrant atmosphere at every one of their games.The Sporting News reveals whether Kyrgios and Kokkinakis will play doubles together at Australian Open 2025.KYRGIOS NEWS:Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic set for stunning doubles union at the Brisbane InternationalNick Kyrgios sets retirement date as doubts surface over his Australian Open levelNick Kyrgios wants to rename John Cain Arena ahead of Australian OpenWill Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis play doubles at Australian Open 2025?Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are planning to play doubles together at Australian Open 2025.Their first round men's doubles match against Aleksandar Vukic/James Duckworth will be on Thursday, January 16 and be the second match in the night session on John Cain Arena.It will follow the men's singles match between Matteo Berrettini and Casper Ruud, which is scheduled for a 5:00pm (AEDT) start.Just prior to the Australian Open singles starting, Kokkinakis revealed a pact between he and Kyrgios to win a second title together at Melbourne Park."I think both of us made a pact on that, unless we are seriously hurt, we're going to try to come out there - even if we're not feeling great," Kokkinakis said."That's one thing, we can rely on each other and play."We don't know what we're going to produce out there, but for sure, we are going to take the court."Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis doubles careerAfter receiving a wildcard doubles entry into Australian Open 2022, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis first turned heads when they defeated No.1 seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the second round.Gradually word spread about the entertainment provided by the duo, as fans packed into KIA Arena to watch their antics.On their way to the final, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis dismissed the third, sixth and 15th seeds, before overcoming fellow Aussie pair Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 7-5 6-4 in the championship decider.In triumphing, the pair became the first wildcard duo in the open era to lift the title.Following their unlikely run at Melbourne Park, the 'Special Ks' continued to play doubles throughout the year.The duo won the ATP Atlanta title and reached the semi-finals at the Miami Masters and Tokyo.They also competed at the US Open but bowed out in the third round.All up, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis picked up a total of 19 wins from the eight tournaments they participated in during 2022, which saw them compete in their first-ever ATP Finals to wrap up the season.The Australian duo bowed out of the tournament in Turin in the group stages but still put on a signature show for fans, notching a stunning upset in their second match.

It was a miracle that they were even out there, but in the end a win was too much to ask of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, who were unable to overcome their Aus Open injury issues. The first miracle came when Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis produced Lazarus-like recoveries from their respective death beds to appear at John Cain Arena for their opening round doubles match.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has said he and compatriot Nick Kyrgios "owe it to the public" to compete in the doubles draw at the 2025 Australian Open, despite both struggling with their physical state.