Djokovic and Kyrgios team up in Australia

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios teamed up for the first time in doubles at the Brisbane International before losing on Tuesday in their second outing.

This event, running from December 29, 2024, to January 5, 2025, acts as a prelude to the Australian Open and features a mix of established stars and emerging talents. Playing at the Brisbane Open allows players to exercise their hands before the start of the Australian Open, making it one of the most important tournaments of the year.

Their partnership was particularly notable as it came after Kyrgios’ long hiatus from competitive play due to injuries. The Australian had only recently returned to the circuit, having played just one singles match in the past 18 months.

Despite this, he expressed excitement about teaming up with Djokovic, who is pursuing his 100th ATP title and aiming for an 11th Australian Open victory. The duo’s chemistry was evident from the start, beginning with the way they trained.

In their opening round, Djokovic and Kyrgios played as a near-perfect team. They managed to overcome early setbacks to secure a victory against their opponents. However, their journey came to an abrupt end in the second round against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

After losing the first set 6-2, they rallied back to take the second set 6-3, pushing the match into a decisive match tie-break. Unfortunately, they fell short, losing 10-8 after Djokovic’s critical double fault at a crucial moment shifted momentum back to Mektic and Venus.

Despite their early exit from the doubles competition, both players remain focused on their singles campaigns. Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals of the singles event after defeating his opponent in straight sets, while Kyrgios continues to navigate his return from injury.

Their participation in Brisbane not only showed off their individual talents but also serves as a sign of likely future collaborations in doubles.