{"id":366192,"date":"2025-12-23T07:22:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T07:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/366192\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T07:22:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T07:22:39","slug":"nick-kyrgios-kept-waiting-for-australian-open-wildcard-despite-craig-tileys-personal-promise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/366192\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Kyrgios kept waiting for Australian Open wildcard despite Craig Tiley\u2019s personal promise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nick Kyrgios remains without an Australian Open<\/a> entry, with Priscilla Hon headlining the four locals to receive wildcard berths for next month\u2019s grand slam.<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s announcement comes a day after Kyrgios received a wildcard entry for the January 4-11 Brisbane International.<\/p>\n

But more Australian Open wildcards will be announced ahead of the Open main draw, which starts on January 18, and Kyrgios has been all but guaranteed an entry.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been in touch around what he\u2019s doing in the summer and he\u2019s obviously got some plans to play,\u201d Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said earlier this month.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s going to depend on where his health is. He\u2019s indicated there are a few places that he wants to play, so we haven\u2019t finalised those yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019ll welcome Nick back any time he wants to come back and play because he draws a great crowd and there\u2019s a great deal of interest in what he\u2019s going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyrgios, beset by injuries and four rounds of knee and wrist surgeries, has played just six ATP Tour matches in more than three years but has recently returned to tennis in a series of exhibitions in the US and India.<\/p>\n

The need for wildcards comes after he plummeted to No.668 in the world rankings and his official injury-protected ranking of No.21 expired in November \u2014 meaning he can no longer enter on medical grounds.<\/p>\n

The Australian Open wildcards handed out this week were given to Hon, Rinky Hijikata, Talia Gibson and Taylah Preston.<\/p>\n

\"PriscillaPriscilla Hon is among four local players to receive Australian Open wildcard berths. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Hon, 27, reached the third round of a grand slam for the first time this year, upsetting 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova at the US Open after winning three qualifying matches just to make the main draw.<\/p>\n

Her ranking also reached the top 100 for the first time, climbing as high as 94 in October before ending the year 119th.<\/p>\n

Hon also qualified for Wimbledon and reached the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, along with taking out ITF W75 tournaments in Brisbane and Romania.<\/p>\n

She was a nominee for Tennis Australia\u2019s Newcombe Medal, won by Alex de Minaur.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pushed my body hard to try and avoid needing one (a wildcard), but I\u2019m very thankful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to represent Australia and can\u2019t wait to see how far I can go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hijikata\u2019s 2025 season highlight came in doubles, when he reached the Wimbledon final with Dutch partner David Pel.<\/p>\n

This will be his fourth straight Australian Open in the main singles draw.<\/p>\n

\"RinkyRinky Hijikata is set for his fourth straight Australian Open main draw. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Preston won 31 of her last 37 matches this year, boosting her ranking from 259 to 199.<\/p>\n

Gibson was picked in Australia\u2019s Billie Jean Cup team for the first time this year and her ranking went as high as 105th in August.<\/p>\n

She won her first grand slam main draw match at this year\u2019s Australian Open.<\/p>\n

French players Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah and Kyrian Jacquet also have wildcard entries.<\/p>\n

Australia now has eight men and eight women in the Open singles draws.<\/p>\n

– with 7NEWS<\/p>\n

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