Nick Kyrgios’ return to the Australian Open is over after he and Thanasi Kokkinakis stopped playing while trailing in the second set of their first-round doubles.

A seething Thanasi Kokkinakis has described his ongoing pectoral muscle issues as “physical and mental torture” after losing a five-set epic at the Australian Open.

Thanasi Kokkinakis says he feels like he’s “letting people down”, with the doubles reunion of his 2022 Australian Open winning partner Nick Kyrgios “unlikely” after he suffered a recurrence of a pectoral injury in his second round loss at Melbourne Park.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has seen his Australian Open campaign ended in the second round by Brit Jack Draper. The popular Aussie, who battled to a gutsy four-set win over Roman Safiullin in the previous round,

Kokkinakis was forced to withdraw from the Adelaide International last week due to a shoulder injury, and his chances of a first-round win at the Australian Open looked dire. It led Aussie legend Woodbridge to question whether Kokkinakis should have been prioritising rest in the lead-up instead of playing exhibition events for the money.

Nick Kyrgios' Australian Open farewell could be at risk after his doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, raised concerns about his fitness to compete in their opening match in Melbourne.