Nick Kyrgios's long-awaited return to the Grand Slam stage was cut short on Monday as Briton Jacob Fearnley sent the ailing home hero out of the Australian Open in the first round. A capacity crowd packed out Kyrgios's favourite John Cain Arena for his first match at Melbourne Park in three years,

Alex de Minaur, the world No. 8, and Nick Kyrgios, who is back after a two-year battle with knee and wrist injuries, are the headliners for their country at Melbourne Park. Kyrgios emceed the night session on John Cain Arena Monday, before De Minaur headlines Rod Laver Arena, the pantheon of Australian tennis Tuesday night.

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

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has hinted that he might retire from playing singles tennis. The 29-year-old, who was once regarded as the best player in the country in the singles category, has recently returned to the court after spending nearly two years on the sidelines because of a serious wrist injury.

Nick Kyrgios appears to be planning his tennis farewell at the age of 29 after losing in the Australian Open first round.

Nick Kyrgios faces another injury setback in his planned return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open after an abdominal strain forced him to withdraw from an exhibition with Novak Djokovic this week.

Nick Kyrgios hinted on Monday that his straight-sets loss in the first round of the Australian Open may be his final singles match in his home country's Grand Slam event. Kyrgios lost 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) to Great Britain's Jacob Fearnley,

Nick Kyrgios admits that he has "probably" played singles at the Australian Open for the last time after his return to the Grand Slam stage ended with defeat in the opening round in Melbourne.

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.