Dec 17, 2024, 01:16 AM ET
Novak Djokovic will team up with former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios and play in the doubles bracket at the Brisbane International, a report in the Australian said.
The pair have developed a friendship after once being at odds when Kyrgios labeled Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, “boneheaded” and a “tool.” And they will use the Dec. 29-Jan. 5 ATP 250 event as a warm-up for next month’s Australian Open.
Djokovic and Kyrgios have faced each other three times on the ATP Tour, with the Australian winning the first two encounters in 2017 before losing in four sets in the 2022 Wimbledon final. In a post on Instagram on Monday, Kyrgios shared a picture of their meeting at Wimbledon, writing: “Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there”.
Kyrgios, who is also scheduled to play in the Dec. 19-22 World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, has played just one singles tour match in the last two years due to knee, foot and wrist injuries.
He is set to make his competitive singles return in Brisbane and will play at the Australian Open with a protected ranking of 21st, where he will also be reunited with Thanasi Kokkinakis in the men’s doubles.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, dubbed the “Special Ks” as juniors, claimed their only major title in 2022 at Melbourne Park. The 2025 Australian Open will run from Jan. 12-26.
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News of the Djokovic-Kyrgios pairing comes less than two weeks after Djokovic formally announced his intention to play Brisbane, as he preps to play for an 11th Australian Open title.
“I’m excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane International and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena,” Djokovic, 37, said in a statement on Dec. 4.
On Dec. 1, in a news conference before playing an exhibition match against Juan Martin del Potro, Djokovic looked ahead to the year to come, illustrating his decision to hire Andy Murray as his coach.
“He knows my game and everything that I have been through very well,” Djokovic said. “He knows the things that are wrong with my game, all of my mistakes.”
The Australian Open main draw is scheduled to begin on Jan. 12. Organizers of the Brisbane International did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.
Information from Reuters and the Associated Press was used in this report.
