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Thanasi Kokkinakis shares if he plans to play doubles again with Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open

Photo by TPN/Getty Images
Photo by TPN/Getty Images
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Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis may have both endured injury-hit campaigns throughout 2025, but they seem to be edging back to fitness ahead of the new season.

It has been a year to forget for this Australian duo, who, between them, only managed to play nine singles matches over an 11-month period.

However, with Kyrgios’ first tournament of 2026 having been confirmed, and Kokkinakis having seemingly recovered from surgery, the fates might be aligning ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.

After all, this tournament remains the site of their greatest-ever triumph, uniting in 2022 to win the doubles title against all the odds.

Speaking about his injury struggles throughout 2025, Kokkinakis has now delivered the final say on whether there’s any chance of a reunion.

Thanasi Kokkinakis hints at another Nick Kyrgios doubles partnership

Speaking to Australian news outlet TODAY, he began by revealing his personal plan to feature at the Australian Open in a singles capacity.

The 30-year-old admitted: “That’s the plan. That’s the plan. I’m hoping to start Brisbane doubles, maybe try and make my return to Adelaide if all goes well and keep trending the right way, and hopefully I’m in good nick to start the Aussie Open. 

What has been said about the controversial ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka

I have a lot of respect for Nick Kyrgios and his talent, but make no mistake, I’m ready to bring my A-game.

Aryna Sabalenka

I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and I’m not just here to play; I’m here to entertain. This is what I live for.

Nick Kyrgios

What is in this for women’s tennis? Nick Kyrgios, unless he is really hurt and can’t run at all, he is going to win this match so easily.

Rennae Stubbs

I think this whole thing is ridiculous. I’m not going to watch a second of it to be honest.

Steve Johnson

“I don’t think I’ll be at my best till sort of mid-year. It’s tough surgery I’m coming back from, but I’d love to get back on the court at the Aussie Open.”

He was not going to get away without answering a question or two on Nick Kyrgios and their potential plans, and Kokkinakis did not dampen any suggestion of a reunion: “If all goes well, we’d love to run it back at the Aussie Open.

“We haven’t given it a fair crack since we won. We were both injured this year when we played, so, yeah, the crowd loves it, and that’s kind of why we’re doing it.”

He concluded by explaining the reasoning behind his surgery back in February: “Yeah, I’m hoping this will still give me some five or six years, like, for my career, you know.

Do you think Nick Kyrgios wasted his talent?

Kyrgios' career stats
https://www.sofascore.com/tennis/player/kyrgios-nick/62490?utm_source=thetennisgazette&utm_medium=Tennis

“I’d rather take a few more good years than five, six years of not being able to sort of be at my peak. So I’m hoping I’ve done the right thing, see how we go. I feel it had to take a chance and take a risk, and, you know, I’m willing to live with the result.”

When Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios won the 2022 Australian Open doubles title

Given the Australian Open is just around the corner, and the hints that these homegrown heroes might be reuniting, it’s worth remembering that fairytale run to the 2022 title.

It ironically began and ended with an all-Australian affair, as they breezed through the combination of Alex Bolt and James McCabe in straight sets to kickstart their campaign.

Next arguably came the moment where people started to believe in the unthinkable, as Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, or Special K as they were being referred to, knocked out the top seeds of Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektić.

2022 Australian Open: Day 13
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Ariel Baher and Gonzalo Escobar were next to be defeated, this time in a hard-fought three-set clash, thus securing their spot in the quarters.

They then beat former Grand Slam champion Michael Venus to reach the semi-finals, before defeating Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos to secure their spot in the final.

This pairing won two major titles in 2025, to emphasise the scalp Kyrgios and Kokkinakis enjoyed.

They completed their run to the title by beating Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in the final, writing their name in the history books.