The 29-year-old has endured a wretched run of injuries and was hampered by an abdominal issue on Monday night. Fans packed John Cain Arena to get a glimpse of Kyrgios playing his first grand slam since the US Open in 2022, and the Aussie had plenty of home support.

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.

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.