Novak Djokovic and Nick Kygrios narrowly beaten in doubles at Brisbane International
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios were knocked out of the men's doubles in the second round at the Brisbane International after a narrow defeat by top-seeded pairing Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
Kyrgios, 29, lost a gruelling three-set match to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Sunday on his return to singles competition after 18 months out through injury.
The Australian said the defeat left him in "throbbing" pain and suggested he was a doubt for this month's Australian Open.
But he fulfilled his promise to play alongside Djokovic in the doubles and appeared comfortable, only occasionally grabbing his right arm between serves.
The pair lost the first set 6-2 but responded well to win the second 6-3 to take the match to a deciding first-to-10-points tie-break.
With Djokovic and Kyrgios two points from victory, a double fault from the Serbian proved costly at 8-6.
It shifted the momentum of the tie-break back towards Mektic and Venus, who won the next three points to seal the win 6-2 3-6 10-8.
"Incredible," Mektic said afterwards. "I was very happy when I saw them [Djokovic and Kyrgios], I could play them on the first of January.
"It's an amazing feeling to start the year like this and we knew there would be points like that against players like this."
Djokovic, pursuing his 100th career ATP title, is through to the quarter-finals of the singles, where he will play France's Gael Monfils.
Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek doping cases 'disgusting' for tennis - Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios says the high-profile doping cases involving Grand Slam winners Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are "disgusting" for tennis.
Italian men's world number one Sinner still faces the threat of a possible suspension after he twice tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March.
Swiatek, also 23, served a one-month suspension after testing positive for a banned heart medication in August, when the Pole was women's world number one.
"I just think that it's been handled horrifically in our sport," said Australian Kyrgios, 29.
"Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport.
"It's a horrible look."
Kyrgios is preparing to make his return to competitive action at the Brisbane International, following an 18-month injury-enforced absence since contesting the Stuttgart Open in June 2023.
In that time, the sport's leading players in both the men's and women's games have become involved in controversy over respective failed tests.
While the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared Sinner of wrongdoing after he twice tested positive for clostebol, the case was taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) after the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) launched an appeal.
Swiatek accepted a one-month ban, which ended on 4 December, after the ITIA accepted her positive test for trimetazidine (TMZ) was caused by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medication melatonin.
The treatment of those two players has led to accusations of double standards, with two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep saying there were "completely different approaches" to those cases compared to her own.
However the ITIA strongly denies handling these cases any differently.
Kyrgios said: "The tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it but no one wants to speak about it, is awful.
"It's not okay. I know that people don't like when I just speak out about things, be honest about things."
In addition to making his singles return against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Kyrgios is set to partner Novak Djokovic - chasing his 100th Tour-level title in Brisbane - in the men's doubles competition.
Novak Djokovic: Coach Andy Murray ‘bringing a fresh look to my game’
Novak Djokovic has credited rival-turned-coach Andy Murray with bringing a “fresh look” to his game ahead of the start of the 2025 season.
Having played Murray 36 times in ATP events and winning 25, the 24-time major winner took on the Scot as his coach in November until the end of the Australian Open, when the pair will reassess.
“He has a unique perspective on my game as one of the greatest rivals that I’ve had. He knows the pros and cons of my game,” said the Serbian per the ATP. “He has also played up to recently on the Tour, so he knows all the other best players currently in the world, the youngsters and the weaknesses and strengths in their game. So I look forward to it, I really do.
“I think he’s bringing a fresh look to my game and I think I’ll be able to benefit from that, no doubt, on the tennis court. But also that kind of champion’s mentality that he has, I’m sure that we’ll match very well.”
Djokovic did admit that it did not immediately feel entirely natural opening up to his former opponent, who only retired as a player in August.
“In a way, it was strange for me to share all these kinds of insights about how I feel on the court, sharing some of the secrets of what I’m going through, what I’m thinking about, how I see my game with somebody that has been always one of the top rivals,” he said.
“But the 10 days that we spent together were terrific. I enjoyed every bit of it. He’s very meticulous, he’s very dedicated, so professional,” he continued. “It doesn’t surprise me because I’ve known him so many years as a player and, obviously, it’s a new experience for him as a coach and it came somewhat as a surprise to him and me that we are pairing up as a coach (and) player.”
The current world No. 7 endured a turbulent season in 2024. While he did claim the men’s singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics – adding the last remaining big title to his collection – he also failed to win a grand slam for only the second year since 2010.
“Overall, I’ve had more losses and ups and downs in this season than previous seasons, so I’m looking for a good start of the season,” he said.
“I’m planning to play a bit more tournaments this year than I did last season,” he continued. “Hopefully, also the level is going to go up and, as a consequence, I will be able to hopefully win a few tournaments and get my ranking higher.”
He kicked off the new season with a win alongside doubles partner Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International on Monday and will begin his singles season on Tuesday against Australian Rinky Hijikata. Should he go all the way in the latter event in Brisbane, he would become only the third men’s player in the Open Era to win 100 ATP singles titles.
Murray will not be in Brisbane, but will join up with Djokovic for the Australian Open, beginning on January 12, where the Serbian is hoping to claim the outright record for most grand slam singles titles of all time. He is currently level with Margaret Court on 24.
