After surgery and close to 16 months of around-the-clock rehabilitation, things began looking up for Nick Kyrgios. And yet here he is, dealing with pain once more.

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.

Nick Kyrgios said his straight sets defeat to Jacob Fearnley in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday may have been his last singles match at the Grand Slam given his growing frustrations with injury.

Nick Kyrgios had admitted this year's Australian Open will likely be the last time he plays singles at Melbourne Park.

Nick Kyrgios says he is good for tennis and the sport will get a boost from his return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open.

Nick Kyrgios's long-awaited return to the Grand Slam stage was cut short on Monday as Briton Jacob Fearnley sent the ailing home hero out of the Australian Open in the first round. A capacity crowd packed out Kyrgios's favourite John Cain Arena for his first match at Melbourne Park in three years,