REILLY OPELKA STUNS NOVAK DJOKOVIC | BRISBANE 2025

 

BRISBANE HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 6

 

NICK KYRGIOS MAKES RETURN FROM INJURY IN DOUBLES WIN WITH NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

 

Australia's Nick Kyrgios, left, talks with Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their doubles match against Alexander Erler of Austria and Andreas Mies of Germany in the Brisbane International, at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane, Australia. (Darren England/AAP Image via AP)

Nick Kyrgios marked his return from injury with an entertaining doubles victory alongside Novak Djokovic in the Brisbane International.

Kyrgios and Djokovic, who faced each other in the Wimbledon singles final in 2022, teamed up to defeat Austria's Alexander Erler and Germany's Andreas Mies 6-4 6-7 (4) 10-8, with Kyrgios sealing the win with an ace.

The 29-year-old, who had played just one match in more than two years due to injury, said in a courtside interview: "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 was just looking around and loving the energy and just so happy to be back out here.

"We promised that we were going to do this one more time before either he [Djokovic] goes or I go, so I'm glad we're still alive!"

Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023 and returned to action in June of that year, but played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist.

He had not played a competitive match since and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but he is playing both doubles and singles in Brisbane and faces France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday.

Djokovic, who produced a superb backhand winner around the net to help secure the only break of the match in the first set, said: "That was awesome.

"I want to thank Nick for playing. He said the other day 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, so whatever Nick was saying I was following.

"I feel great. Cannot ask for a better start to the season, sharing the court with Nick for the first time, winning the match and getting a little bit of a feel for the court.

"I played my last competitive tournament a few months ago, I ended my season quite early, just wanted to get my things together, physically recover and work really on perfecting my game as much as I can

"There's a lot of great players, really quick, dynamic, powerful players nowadays, youngsters that I have to keep up with."

- Phil Casey

DOMINIC THIEM ADVANCES AFTER BRUSH WITH DEADLY SNAKE AT BRISBANE L

BRISBANE, Australia -- Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem had a brush with one of Australia's most venomous snakes during a qualifying match at the Brisbane International on Saturday.

The former world No. 3 was a set down to Australian James McCabe, 20, in a first-round qualifying match when fans courtside spotted the snake.

Security personnel quickly arrived, but the umpire had to stop play as the snake slithered on to the court to the shock of the players and fans.

"I really love animals, especially exotic ones," Thiem said. "But they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ballkids, so it was a really dangerous situation.

"It's something that has never happened to me and is something I'll definitely never forget."

NADAL TO MAKE TOUR RETURN AT BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

Reuters

Former tennis world number one Rafa Nadal will return at the Brisbane International warm up event for the Australian Open in January, the Spaniard said on Friday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not played a competitive match since bowing out in the second round of this year's Australian Open when hampered by a hip flexor problem.

Nadal was initially expected to miss just eight weeks but underwent surgery on a hip muscle in June.

NAOMI OSAKA VIA BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL: AZARENKA WINS IN AUSTRALIA

Victoria Azarenka has won the Brisbane International tennis championship.