Tennis star Nick Kyrgios told reporters after his opening-round defeat at the Australian Open that he has likely played his last singles match at the event as the end of his career nears.

Kyrgios, 29, was beaten in straight sets by Brit Jacob Fearnley on Monday as he dealt with nagging injury issues and spoke honestly after the result.

“I went out there, I would say 65% of my capacity,” he told reporters.

“For [the fans] to really see me fighting and still giving me that energy, it meant a lot, because I feel like I’ve given my life to tennis and I’ve tried to give them a show every time I go out there.

“Realistically, I can’t see myself playing a singles match here again.”

Kyrgios, who is set to compete in the doubles with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, said he had “no regrets” about his participation in the competition.

“My journey is not over, but I’ve had an amazing journey. My career has been amazing,” he said.

“I continue to try and have fun, just be real, and enjoy the ride. But I think it would be selfish for me to say that I want more. I’ve had a lot of success. More than most athletes would have.”

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.