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Wild card pair will play top seeds Mektic/Venus next
December 30, 2024
Highlights: Djokovic/Kyrgios win entertaining doubles opener in Brisbane 2025
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic notched a first-round victory on team debut Monday at the Brisbane International presented by Evie. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios during their first-round victory on Monday in Brisbane.
By Andy West
Back with a bang in Brisbane.

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios launched their respective 2025 seasons in style on Monday at the Brisbane International presented by Evie, where the pair teamed for an entertaining opening doubles triumph at the ATP 250.

The wild card duo produced several moments of spectacular shotmaking en route to a 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-8 win against Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies. The highlight of a high-quality encounter inside Pat Rafter Arena was arguably a crafty around-the-net backhand winner from Djokovic in the 10th game of the match, a moment which delighted his first-time partner Kyrgios and had the Brisbane crowd on its feet.

Perhaps buoyed by the uptick in atmosphere, Kyrgios followed up with a stunning lob winner to bring up a set point on return at 5-4, 30/40. He then whipped a forehand pass onto the very edge of the tramline to seal the first set, before he and Djokovic held their nerve in a Match Tie-break for a one-hour, 48-minute win that they celebrated with a jumping chest bump.

“The around the net was a great set up by Mies, who played a really nice angled short volley, so I had an opening, and I went for it," said Djokovic, when asked to compare his winner with a tweener that Kyrgios pulled off in the second set. "It was 5-4 to us but 30/0 [to them], and we won that point and the energy of the crowd got us going. Then we won that game and the first set. Nick’s tweener is definitely tougher to play under the circumstances. We tried to get the crowd on our side and get that energy and just use it for some good tennis.”

Kyrgios also weighed in on his partner's moment of magic: “That’s just an iconic Novak moment. The way the guy moves around the court, I’ve never moved like that in my life. I was just loving it. The tweener is I guess more of an iconic shot that the kids love. The fans in here wanted me to underarm serve, but I was trying to be professional! I don’t know which Nick Kyrgios they want. Do you want tweeners, or do you want me to focus and get a win? I tried to find that balance tonight as much as I could.”

Competing in his first tour-level match for 18 months due to injury, Kyrgios continued to produce sublime moments of skill that served as an immediate reminder of the natural ability that has helped him earn seven tour-level singles titles and reach a career-high No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings. The 29-year-old reached a major singles final in 2022, when he fell to his current doubles partner Djokovic in the Wimbledon championship match. He is also a former Grand Slam doubles champion, having won the 2022 Australian Open alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“That was awesome. Thank you, guys, for coming out tonight,” said Djokovic. “A packed house and an amazing atmosphere. Great to be back. I last played here four or five years ago [at the 2020 ATP Cup]. Australia always has an amazing crowd, an amazing culture for tennis, so any city that you come to has a packed stadium.

“I want to thank Nick for playing. He said the other day that it should be a pleasure to play with him, and it is. I’m glad to share the court with him on his comeback. I haven’t played that many doubles matches in my life, to be honest, particularly in the past five years, so whatever Nick was saying, I was following, actually.”

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Kyrgios responded: “I was actually surprised that he doubted himself in some moments. I was like, ‘Brother you are the greatest of all time, go for it, do what you got to do’. For me, I’m just looking around at all the fans and this beautiful stadium… This injury has been brutal for me, so I wasn’t taking any of this for granted.

"I don’t know how many Aussie summers I’ve got left, so I’m just looking around and loving the energy, and just so happy to be back out here. [Novak and I] promised we would do this one time, before either he goes or I go, so I’m glad we are still alive.”

Kyrgios moved well during Monday’s clash and both he and Djokovic appeared to enjoy their first competitive outing together on the doubles court. The record 24-time major singles titlist Djokovic responded to some praise for an early volley from his partner at the opening changeover with a good-natured response of, “What a game I played, huh?’, drawing laughs from Kyrgios and the crowd.

Next up for the returning Kyrgios will be a first-round singles clash against the fast-rising, big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at not before 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Following that clash, Djokovic will take on home wild card Rinky Hijikata in his first tour-level singles match since he fell to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final last October.

Serbian will play Monfils for quarter-final spot at ATP 250
December 31, 2024
Extended Highlights: Djokovic advances, Mpetshi Perricard ousts Kyrgios in Brisbane 2025
Watch extended Tuesday highlights from the Brisbane International presented by Evie, featuring first-round wins for Novak Djokovic, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Matteo Arnaldi and Frances Tiafoe. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.

Novak Djokovic overcomes Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday evening in Brisbane.
By Andy West
Novak Djokovic continued his fine start to the week at the Brisbane International presented by Evie on Tuesday evening, when the top-seeded Serbian eased past home favourite Rinky Hijikata in his first tour-level singles match since October.

A day after beginning his 2025 ATP Tour season with a doubles victory alongside Nick Kyrgios at the ATP 250, Djokovic earned a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 singles triumph against Hijikata. The 37-year-old struck the ball cleanly from the baseline throughout and delivered a typically precise serving display en route to a 75-minute win inside Pat Rafter Arena.

“I always expect myself to do well on the court. Obviously, a win is a win,” said Djokovic in his on-court interview. “To start off the new season with a win is very important. I think Hijikata deserves a great round of applause for his performance tonight, he was really good. He made me work, definitely, for the win tonight.”


Djokovic won 81 per cent (25/31) of points behind his first serve against Hijikata, who battled admirably but ultimately lacked the weapons to penetrate his opponent’s rock-solid defence. Djokovic also did not face a break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats, as he wrapped victory with plenty of time to spare to join his family for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“We will definitely celebrate the new year, we have some plans. My family is here,” said Djokovic, whose match point celebration included mimicking playing a violin, perhaps a reference to the instrument his daughter Tara is learning. “My kids are excited to go past their bedtime. We are going to watch I guess one of many fireworks displays tonight here in Brisbane.

Djokovic also had a New Year's Eve message for the Brisbane crowd: “Happy new year in advance to everyone. It’s a special evening. Last year I played a match at the United Cup in Perth just before midnight, and again here in Brisbane, so it’s kind of a tradition now happening each year. Thanks for choosing to come and spend new year’s eve on the court here with us, we appreciate it.”

Awaiting Djokovic in the second round in Brisbane is Gael Monfils, against whom he holds a 19-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head record. The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings is this week aiming to become just the third man to win 100 tour-level titles after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

The Serb shares his excitement about the partnership with the Scot
January 01, 2025
Novak Djokovic defeated Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday in Brisbane.
William West/Getty images
Novak Djokovic defeated Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday in Brisbane.
By ATP Staff
Novak Djokovic had a special New Year's Eve message for his new coach Andy Murray after winning his opening-round match against Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday evening at the Brisbane International presented by Evie.

“He is skiing at the moment. He has a family skiing trip. Sending my love to all the Murray family,” Djokovic said in his post-match on-court interview.

“I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne. That wouldn’t be great,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings also shared that they had spoken before the match and have been in constant touch.




Djokovic announced his partnership with his former rival Murray in November last year. The Serb, who is aiming to win a record-extending 25th major at the Australian Open, will be joined by the 37-year-old in Melbourne.

“Just overall, a very nice and strange feeling to have him on the same side of the court. We have been rivals for 20-plus years and always kind of kept secrets from each other about the way we practised, the way we prepared, and the way we approached the matches. Never wanted to show weakness to your main opponents, your rivals,” he shared.

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He is already drawing positives from their collaboration.

“To have a legend of the game, someone that is known to be an intelligent tennis player, it's a great honour, great pleasure for me. I love talking to him about the nuances, the details, how I can improve my game, how I can gain an inch, more court positioning, compared to my opponent. And every bit of percentage counts at the highest level,” he said.

“We haven't spent too many days on the court together, so I look forward to having him in Melbourne.”

The Serbian will play Gael Monfils on Wednesday for a quarter-final berth in Brisbane. Djokovic holds an overwhelming 19-0 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Djokovic, a seven time Nitto ATP Finals champion, finished the 2024 season with a 37-9 match record according to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index.

Singles stars come within two points of victory against top seeds Mektic &Venus
January 01, 2025
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came within two points of victory against doubles top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
2025 Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came within two points of victory against doubles top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.
By ATP Staff
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came within two points of extending their doubles run in Brisbane Wednesday, but an untimely double fault in the match tie-break proved to be a turning point against Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

Having rallied from a set down, Djokovic and Kyrgios looked headed for the semi-finals before the former World No. 1 pushed for too much on his second serve at 8/6, the beginning of a four-point winning streak by the top seeds to close out the match 6-2 3-6, 10-8.