4 months ago
Nick Kyrgios appears group for small much than a peripheral domiciled during Australia’s summertime of tennis aft a brisk, anticlimactic and – for fans of nan 30-year-old – worrying conclusion astatine nan Brisbane International successful his first competitory singles outing successful almost 10 months.
The Canberran, who is recovering from knee and wrist surgeries and played only 5 times connected nan ATP Tour successful 2025, offered small guidance against American Aleksandar Kovacevic successful nan first information astatine nan Pat Rafter Arena connected Tuesday. The 27-year-old American, classed 58 successful nan world, breezed past nan Australian 6-3 6-4 successful conscionable 66 minutes, without giving up a break constituent opportunity.
The lucifer disappointed nan capacity crowd successful Pat Rafter Arena, who had hoped a first singles ATP Tour lucifer since March for nan sport’s self-styled maverick would springboard Kyrgios backmost to relevance, aft a promising doubles capacity connected Sunday. Instead, it vindicated nan ongoing reluctance of Australian Open officials to manus nan erstwhile world No 13 a precious spot astatine nan Melbourne Park expansive slam starting connected 18 January.
Kyrgios’ mentation for nan summertime has been constricted to a bid of exhibitions, including nan Battle of nan Sexes against Aryna Sabalenka, and nan doubles lucifer successful Brisbane alongside friend Thanasi Kokkinakis. But his deficiency of competitiveness connected Tuesday appeared to astonishment moreover Kovacevic, nan University of Illinois postgraduate pinch a powerful all-round game.
“To beryllium honest, I was expecting a small much than that successful position of adversity today,” he told nan on-court announcer aft nan match. “[It was] reliable to scout him precocious because he hasn’t been connected circuit for a while playing superior matches, truthful I didn’t really cognize what to expect.”
Kyrgios was surgery doubly by Kovacevic, and nan Australian struggled pinch his mobility and return, winning conscionable a azygous constituent connected his opponent’s first serve. He is now acold from nan jock he was astatine his peak, and nan seven-time circuit victor wore an ankle brace, a taped wrist and a plaster connected his face. After serving midway done nan first set, he winced and looked skywards twice, arsenic he clutched astatine his correct elbow successful evident beingness discomfort.
The Battle of nan Sexes victor was only playing singles successful Brisbane acknowledgment to a wildcard. However, Australian Open organisers person resisted giving Kyrgios nan balanced invitation for nan main tie astatine Melbourne Park, moreover arsenic lower-profile countrymen specified arsenic Rinky Hijikata and James Duckworth person been afforded places.
With conscionable 3 wildcards still disposable for nan men’s singles, location is interest complete whether Kyrgios’ conditioning warrants an entry, fixed he has done small to show he is fresh for best-of-five tennis. In 2025 he was eliminated successful nan first information successful 3 sets against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, and said afterwards: “Realistically, I astir apt can’t spot myself playing a singles lucifer present again.” Kyrgios still has astatine slightest 1 doubles lucifer successful Brisbane, arsenic good arsenic a scheduled quality astatine Kooyong adjacent week, to person tourney organisers that that statement was premature.
But nan business besides presents an different opportunity for Tennis Australia. The organisation has been looking to maximise nan entreaty of “Opening Week” successful caller years, which usually features exhibitions, concerts and 3 rounds of qualifying featuring chiefly circuit battlers and section prospects. This twelvemonth sees nan preamble of nan latest innovation: nan One Point Slam, offering $1m to amateurs, celebrities and circuit professionals successful a knockout wherever each information is decided by a azygous back-and-forth.
Kyrgios has already committed to being portion of that novelty, but he told journalists this week he would besides beryllium prepared to participate Australian Open qualifying if a main tie wildcard was not forthcoming.
Three classical Kyrgios matches successful that first week – moreover if they were successful qualifying rounds – mightiness instantly do what officials person been trying to for years, and toggle shape 2 weeks of elite tennis astatine Melbourne Park into a three-week smorgasbord of sport-slash-entertainment. That whitethorn beryllium – for a man who is much floor plan than play – a fitting legacy.
