Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios react after starting 2025 season with victory on doubles debut in Brisbane
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios earned a hard-fought win on their debut as a doubles team at the 2025 Brisbane International to make the perfect start to the new season.
The surprise pairing triumphed 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-8 against Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies in the opening round of the ATP 250 event.
Djokovic and Kyrgios secured the only break of the match to win the opening set when the Australian curled a superb forehand passing shot onto the edge of the line.
The duo then lost the second set on a tiebreak after being unable to convert any of their three break point opportunities.
Djokovic and Kyrgios crucially earned the only mini-break of a close 10-point match tiebreak to go up 3-2 before holding firm to edge an entertaining contest.
Having put on a show for the Brisbane crowd with some highlight-reel shots, the pair celebrated their win with a chest bump. They will face top seeds Nikola Metkic and Michael Venus in the second round.
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In a joint on-court interview, Djokovic revealed he enjoyed himself and admitted he had been following Kyrgios’ lead given his lack of doubles experience.
“I want to thank Nick for playing. He said the other day it should be a pleasure to play with him. And it is. It is a pleasure,” the 37-year-old Serbian said.
“I’m glad to share the court with him on his comeback. Yeah, I mean I haven’t played that many doubles matches in my life to be honest, particularly in the last five years. So whatever Nick was saying I was following actually (laughs).”
Kyrgios, though, shut down the notion that this meant he was the team captain, but he did express surprise that Djokovic had doubted himself.
“Not at all,” he responded when asked if he was captain. “I was surprised he doubted himself in some moments. I was like ‘Brother, you’re the greatest of all time. Go for it. Do what you wanna do’.”
Kyrgios, who was making his competitive comeback after two injury-ravaged seasons, added: “I was looking around at all the fans… this [wrist] 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 have left. We promised we would do this one time before he goes or I go. So I’m glad we’re still alive.”
The Aussie, who won a point after hitting a stunning ‘tweener’ lob, was asked about the best shots the pair hit in the match.
He’s back @NickKyrgios up to his old tricks in his first match back#BrisbaneInternational pic.twitter.com/XXnynsivJB
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 30, 2024
“The guy moves around the court… I’ve never moved like that in my life, so I was just loving it,” said a smiling Kyrgios.
“The tweener’s more of a… I guess iconic shot, the kids… I mean everyone’s in here wanting me to hit underarm [serves].
“I’m trying to be professional, so I don’t know, which Nick Kyrgios do you want? Do you want the one who’s gonna break rackets or do tweeners, or focus and get a win. I tried to find that balance tonight as best I could.”
Djokovic replied: “The highlight of this interview so far… his sentence, ‘I’m trying to be professional.’ I love it. I love it.”
Kyrgios and Djokovic will both begin their singles campaigns in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The Australian will face huge-serving 21-year-old French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the world No 31, in a tough first round matchup.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will face world No 73 and Aussie wildcard Rinky Hijikata.
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