Kyrgios says his loss might have been his last singles match at Melbourne Park

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.

Sure, Kyrgios delivered the occasional ace and his favorite sort of trick shots, delighting a home crowd as he usually does. But his much-anticipated return to Melbourne Park after two seasons filled with injuries and surgeries did not last long or go particularly well, and the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up was hampered by a recent abdominal strain while losing 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) to unseeded Jacob Fearnley.

Afterward, Kyrgios said he doubts he ever will be back to compete in singles at his nation's Grand Slam tournament, although he does plan to remain in the doubles bracket this year alongside countryman and good pal Thanasi Kokkinakis. They won the Australian Open doubles trophy together in 2022.