Tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios has rowed back on comments supporting unvaccinated athletes, saying it would not be "morally right" to let them play at the Australian Open.

The 26-year-old generated headlines in Australia on Tuesday after calling for his home Grand Slam to be canceled and saying it was "morally wrong" to force athletes to get vaccinated.

Australian government officials have said unvaccinated players will be barred from the tournament in January, casting doubt on whether men's world number one and reigning champion Novak Djokovic will defend his title.