A lively and optimistic Nick Kyrgios powered through the discomfort of his surgically repaired wrist as his Brisbane International comeback ended with a narrow doubles loss.
The Australian honored his commitment to partner Novak Djokovic in the second round of the men’s doubles, despite enduring a taxing three-set singles defeat to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday night. Kyrgios, worn down by the big-serving Frenchman, had hinted at a challenging day for his serving arm and even cast doubt on his planned Australian Open return later this month.
However, the 29-year-old showed remarkable resilience on court. While he occasionally clutched his right biceps, Kyrgios displayed impressive form, firing serves at over 200 km/h and showcasing deft touch, agility, and sharp reflexes that defied his long absence from top-level tennis. The dynamic duo fell just short, losing 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 to top seeds Michael Venus and Nikola Mektic.
Kyrgios and Djokovic had their chances, with Kyrgios’s spirited returns and effective kick serves putting them within reach of victory. However, a costly Djokovic double fault at 8-6 in the match tie-break turned the tide, leading to a four-point streak for their opponents. Despite the loss, the pair left the court smiling.
“Incredible,” Mektic told the sold-out crowd. “I was thrilled to play them on the first of January. It’s an amazing feeling to start the year like this, and we knew we’d have moments like that against players of their caliber.”
Djokovic, pursuing his 100th ATP title, is expected to play his second-round singles match against Gaël Monfils on Thursday. Meanwhile, Kyrgios plans to return to Canberra for rest before assessing his readiness for the Australian Open. The fact that Kyrgios took to Pat Rafter Arena on Wednesday was seen as a positive step, following his grueling 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3) singles clash.
Reflecting on his journey, Kyrgios shared, “I’ve got six holes in my hand and one in my arm from surgery; no tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back to play. It’s all experimental—there’s no real protocol to follow.”
He admitted to feeling the physical toll: “It’s very sore right now. I used to take my youth for granted in this sport—no cooldowns, no recovery protocols. It’s biting me in the arse now.”
Elsewhere, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov defeated Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Jordan Thompson is set to face Alex Michelsen in a late match, with the winner advancing to a quarter-final clash against Dimitrov.
