Nick Kyrgios has slammed the selective use of in-game technology after he and Thanasi Kokkinakis’ dramatic opening round exit from the 2026 Australian Open Men’s Doubles.
The x-factor duo, dubbed ‘Special Ks’, came back from a set down on KIA Arena to force a third and final set — that went to a super tiebreaker — but were ultimately beaten 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-4) by fellow Aussie duo Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans.
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As the thrilling two-hour and 49-minute affair went on, Kyrgios’ emotions hit their apex during the fourth point of the super tiebreaker, where his partner Kokkinakis looked to have hit a winner at the net, before being overturned on review at the request of the opposing Kubler.
Replays showed the Adelaide star had illegally made contact before the returning ball crossed over to his side of the court, with his racquet clearly overreaching the net. Subsequently, the point was reversed and sent ‘Special Ks’ into a 1-3 deficit they never recovered from.
“We’re only playing by some rules tonight guys, don’t worry,” Kyrgios said audibly after the point was overturned.
The 30-year-old’s frustrations appeared to stem largely from a Kokkinakis serve in the opening point of the super tiebreak was deemed a let, much to his dissatisfaction under the belief it had not touched the net.
“How can you review a ball that’s been hit over the net, but you can’t review a serve over the net?” Kyrgios exclaimed in their post-match press conference.
“It doesn’t make any f***ing sense, that’s why I’m pissed off. We’re playing for millions of dollars, we’ve both been injured (and) both trying to get to this stage. Some of these rules are just so, so, so dumb, they don’t make sense.
“How can you not review a let? How can you not review that? How can you not just watch a ball just go over the net? How dumb does that sound? Next question.”
Kyrgios later added: “It sucks. For me personally, I put in a lot of work. I’m probably in some of the best shape I’ve been in for a while, (so) it just pisses me off that we go out there and compete, and some of these rules are just so gray-areaed.
“In my opinion, he’s (Kokkinakis) trying to serve (with) what he’s got left, he hits a great serve to start the tiebreak. It’s a horrendous call by the referee, horrendous.
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“I’m not saying that’s the reason we lost; obviously Kubes and Polmans, they’re great players. (But it) just pisses me off because now we both have to go back to the drawing board … It’s just annoying.”
Neither Kyrgios nor Kokkinakis entered the Men’s Singles tournament this summer as a result of injury concerns, with the former now missing the draw for the third time in four years after the pair’s epic 2022 Doubles Grand Slam win.
As for Kokkinakis, 2026 is the first Men’s Singles campaign at home he’s missed since 2020, though it was clear throughout the match his right shoulder was a notable cause for concern.
Crucially, the 29-year-old called for a medical timeout with his duo up 4-1 in the third set in an injury that clearly bothered him from start to finish.
“I think we’re going to be on ice for a while. I don’t want to play another match feeling like that ever again, so I will take a serious break,” Kokkinakis told journalists post-play.
“I told Lleyton (Hewitt) he’s got to take someone (else to the Davis Cup) straight after (the match) … you’ve got to take a healthy body, someone that’s a lot more ready than me. I’m in no way, shape or form ready to compete at this level, so I’ve got to do some things.
“I thought I’d be able to get through a doubles, so that’s disappointing.
“(Sometimes) I don’t know how much I have left, but then other parts I play some good tennis. So, I think if I can get this right, I’ve got a lot left … I’m going to try everything I can.”
The winning pair of Kubler and Polmans will take on Switzerland’s Jakub Paul and Brit Marcus Willis in the second round of the Men’s Doubles. The eventual Doubles champions in both Men’s and Women’s will take home a $900,000 AUD prize.
Kyrgios is set to play Mixed Doubles with Canadian Leylah Fernandez from 5pm AEDT on Friday evening at Court 3 (ANZ Arena).
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