Novak Djokovic’s first opponent of 2025 season and route to Brisbane title revealed

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic looks on

Novak Djokovic has learned which player he will face in his first match of the new season as his potential path to the title at the 2025 Brisbane International has been revealed. 

The Serbian legend is set to make just his second appearance at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane, where main draw action will take place from December 29 to January 5. He was beaten by Ernests Gulbis in the opening round of the 2009 edition of the event.

Djokovic is playing his first official tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the final of the 2024 Shanghai Masters in October. He subsequently withdrew from the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in Turin to cut his campaign short.

The draw for the 2025 Brisbane International took place on Saturday, with Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune and Nick Kyrgios all featuring.

Djokovic, who is the top seed as the world No 7, was handed an opening round showdown with Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata.

No 2 seed Dimitrov, a two-time champion in Brisbane, will take on a qualifier in the first match of his title defence.

Rune, who is seeded third and lost to Dimitrov in the 2024 final, faces a tough opening round matchup against Jiri Lehecka. The Dane landed in the bottom half of the draw with Dimitrov, while fourth seed Frances Tiafoe is in the top half with Djokovic.

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Kyrgios will play 21-year-old rising French star — the huge-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard — in the first match of his comeback event.

The 29-year-old Australian, who is competing using a protected ranking, has played just one match since October 2022 due to serious knee and wrist injuries that required surgery.

If Djokovic comes through his maiden encounter with Hijikata, he will face either Gael Monfils or a qualifier in the second round.

The 37-year-old could then meet seventh seed Alexei Popyrin in the quarter-finals. Djokovic beat Popyrin at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2024 before suffering a shock loss to the Australian at the US Open.

In the semi-finals, Tiafoe, Sebastian Korda and Kyrgios are all possible opponents for Djokovic, while the 24-time major winner could play Dimitrov or Rune in a potential final.

Djokovic’s possible path to the Brisbane title

R1 – Rinky Hijikata

R2 – Gael Monfils

QF – Alexei Popyrin

SF – Frances Tiafoe/Sebastian Korda

F – Grigor Dimitrov/Holger Rune

Djokovic is seeking his 100th ATP singles title in Brisbane, having won his 99th at the Paris Olympics in August. After Brisbane, Djokovic will aim to secure a record-extending 11th Australian Open crown in Melbourne.

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