Australian Open: Kei Nishikori, Nick Kyrgios, Belinda Bencic return with protected rankings
Japan’s highest-ever ranked men’s player last played singles at Melbourne Park in 2021, the Australian returns from injury and the Swiss from maternity leave
Kei Nishikori, the first men’s player from Japan in the Open Era to be ranked in the world top five, will return to the Australian Open for the first time since 2021.
Also coming back to Melbourne Park are former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic, who will play their first grand slam tournaments after long absences.
The Japanese former world No 4, who is now ranked 106th, will compete in singles at next month’s event with a protected ranking, tournament organisers said on Friday.
Kyrgios, who will play with a protected ranking of 21, has not played in a grand slam since 2022 because of knee, foot and wrist injuries.
Bencic, who gave birth to a daughter in April, will return with a special ranking of 15th.
“Kyrgios and Bencic are among six men and six women competing … using protected rankings, setting the main-draw entry ranking cut-off for both fields at world No 98,” the organisers said in a statement.
