Sad reason Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis retired, walked off John Cain Arena early

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios have revealed why they had to pull the pin during their first Aussie Open doubles match.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, dubbed the Special Ks, have pulled the pin on their doubles campaign and walked off the court.

The Aussie pair were returning to their home grand slam for the first time since they won the doubles title at the Australian Open in 2022.

After losing the first set of an all-Australian clash against James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, the Special Ks retired during the second set in front of a packed crowd at John Cain Arena.

The reason, as Kokkinakis put it, his “arm’s essentially cooked”.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis leave John Cain Arena after retiring in the men's double. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Doctors advised me not to play,” Kokkinakis said in a post-match press conference on Thursday.

“I’m going to need to do a serious procedure now, probably. I’ve got to speak to as many experts as I can.

“I can’t serve, can’t hit a high forehand. I’m in a lot of pain.”

The 28-year-old said he wanted to see if he could be somewhat competitive “even without a serve” and knew there was a big crowd waiting for them.

“Any other event, any other circumstance, I’m not stepping foot on court,” he said.

A disappointed Kokkinakis explains why they had to retire. Picture: Australian Open YouTube

Kyrgios said he thanked Kokkinakis immediately for even stepping out there.

“I knew it was going to be a big effort for him,” he said.

Earlier in the week, Kokkinakis vowed to get out on the court with Kyrgios, “unless my arms are falling off the bone”.

“We owe it to the public. The support they’ve shown us, how much they love when we play,” he said.

But after Kokkinakis was knocked out of the men’s singles competition by Jack Draper in a 4 hour, 35 minute slugfest on Wednesday night, he said doubles was looking unlikely.

Kokkinakis was already serving restricted then and was “distraught” being unable to compete at his best.

There were laughs during the match. Picture: Michael Klein

But Kokkinakis was also struggling with his injury. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Surprisingly, he still stepped out on the court on Thursday night.

He said the ongoing issue was a pectoral tear along with “a crazy amount of scar tissue”.

Attempts at treating it without surgery “for years” had failed, he said.

Kyrgios, who played with an abdominal strain and lost his first singles match of the tournament, said if they had full health they “could do some damage in the doubles”.

While Kyrgios has said he can’t see himself playing high-level singles beyond this year and likely wouldn’t be back at the Australian Open on the singles side of the draw again, he has not ruled out featuring in doubles again next year.

“Doubles is a bit easier on the body. I think we can still play amazing doubles,” he said.

Originally published as Sad reason Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis retired, walked off John Cain Arena early