Nick Kyrgios believes Stan Wawrinka has earned the right to a wildcard for next week’s Australian Open after his recent performance at the United Cup.
40-year-old Wawrinka has been given a pass in the main draw at Melbourne Park in what will be his last appearance there before retiring later this year. In his opening tournament of 2026, the Swiss recorded a win-loss record of 1-4 at the United Cup, with his sole win being over top-30 player Arthur Rinderknech. In his matches against Flavio Cobolli, Zizou Bergs and Hubert Hurkacz, he won a set before losing.
Speaking about Wawrinka following his win over Zhizhen Zhang at the Kooyong Classic, Kyrgios has hailed his level of tennis. The Australian had also been in the mix to receive a wildcard but ended up passing on the opportunity due to doubts about his fitness level when playing best-of-five matches. Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell were handed the last two wildcards.
“Someone like Stan, who’s played three or four competitive matches in the United Cup, all at a super high level, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that he deserves it (a wildcard),” Kyrgios said.
“And it just wouldn’t be fair like of me to have so many doubts physically to go out there and play some of the best players in the world in the best of five and not even sure that I could back up one round, like it’s just not fair.
“Stan completely deserves a wild card and obviously some of the other Aussies as well and I’m going look at still playing doubles and hopefully a bit of mixed as well – just to be a part of it is special.”
As for what the future has in store for Kyrgios, he has sounded out playing Wimbledon as a potential goal for him. At The All England Club, he reached his only Grand Slam final in 2022 before losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic. Since the breakthrough run, he has only played in a major event twice due to injury. Reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 US Open before losing in the first round of the Australian Open last year.
“I think if I’m still able to produce a bit of level like that (his Kooyong Classic match), I think Wimbledon’s a bit easier physically,” he explained.
“I think possibly if I’m able to just put a couple good months together training-wise and we’ll see.”
Kyrgios will return to action on Wednesday at the One Point Slam, which features 24 professionals and 24 amateur players fighting it out for a prize of AUS$1M (£490,000). Matches are just one point with the winner progressing to the next round.
