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

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

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.