Nick Kyrgios’ return to the Australian Open is over after he and Thanasi Kokkinakis stopped playing while trailing in the second set of their first-round doubles.

Australian doubles pair James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic have eased into the second round of the men's doubles after opponents Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis retired during the second set of their match on John Cain Arena.

Thanasi Kokkinakis says a doctor advised him not to play before he and Nick Kyrgios retired injured in the men doubles first round at the Australian Open.

Thanasi Kokkinakis managed to take the court and play doubles with Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open on Thursday night, but his injury saw the pair pull the plug while trailing 5-7 2-3 to fellow Aussies James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic.

The apologetic Aussie was plainly ‘shattered’ to tell his great mate Nick Kyrgios it was all over. Thanasi Kokkinakis’ dream of repeating his stunning Australian Open doubles success with Nick Kyrgios has been dashed by his debilitating pectoral muscle injury.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis's bid to repeat their Australian Open doubles triumph of 2022 ended in retirement in on Thursday when the latter was unable to continue their first-round tie.

Nick Kyrgios raged at an Australian Open umpire after his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis was given a code violation for hitting the ball out of play. Kokkinakis was pulled up in the first set against Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth for launching the ball into the stands in frustration, before he and Kyrgios later retired.

Thanasi Kokkinakis says he feels like he’s “letting people down”, with the doubles reunion of his 2022 Australian Open winning partner Nick Kyrgios “unlikely” after he suffered a recurrence of a pectoral injury in his second round loss at Melbourne Park.