Nick Kyrgios has expressed serious doubts about playing the Australian Open after losing a thriller in his long-awaited comeback from injury at the Brisbane International. And 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic sent an ominous message to his rivals with a crushing straight-sets win ahead of what will be a tilt at a record 25th major at Melbourne Park later this month.

Kyrgios had only played one singles match in two-and-a-half years after being cruelled by long-term wrist and knee injuries but showed plenty of positives in a 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) loss to rising French talent Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Brisbane International. But the 29-year-old Aussie admitted after the defeat that he was still playing through significant pain and that it would be a ‘miracle’ for him to compete at the Australian Open.

The Aussie insists he’ll play through the pain of a ‘throbbing’ wrist to partner Djokovic in doubles on New Year’s Day but admitted his participation in the first grand slam of 2025 was far from assured. “I was really excited for the Aus Open, but after today – obviously I’m [still] super excited. If I’m able to play… but the reality kind of set in to me,” Kyrgios said after Tuesday’s night’s defeat to Perricard.

“That’s a best-of-three [sets] match with my wrist. If I’m able to [play] – not only is a grand slam mentally really draining, like you’re there for two-and-a-half, three weeks [but] it’s, like, physically a grind. It’s one of the hardest things to do in any sport, is win a grand slam in men’s tennis.

“I think I almost need a miracle, and I need the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a grand slam, for sure. Today, if this was a grand slam, we may still be out on court, and I don’t know how I’d pull up the next day or the day after.”

Kyrgios’ big-serving French opponent sent down a staggering 36 aces in a match that featured no breaks of serve as the Aussie’s biggest weapon was turned against him. But Kyrgios remained relatively calm throughout and took plenty of encouragement from his comeback match, despite revealing the worrying truth about his injury ordeal.

“I’ve got six holes in my hand and one in my arm (from surgery); not one tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back and tried to play again,” he said. “It’s all really an experimental (process) … no real protocol of how it’s going to be or how it’s going to pull up.

“It’s very sore at the moment. We were expecting that. I’m going to do all the right things, and I’ll be playing doubles, for sure.” Kyrgios can use his injury-protected ranking to earn a berth at the Australian Open but admits that he will hav to ‘battle’ through ‘constant pain in that wrist’.

There were no such concerns for Kyrgios’ doubles partner Djokovic, who tuned up for his quest to claim a record-extending 11th Australian Open title with a crushing win over Australia’s Rinky Hijikata. The top seed at the Brisbane International beat the local hope 6-3 6-3 in an impressing showing 74-minute demolition job on Pat Rafter Arena.

Djokovic only won one title in 2024 at the Paris Olympic Games and saw his world ranking slide out to seven after a knee injury that forced him to undergo surgery. But the 37-year-old showed signs that he will again be a force to reckon with at Melbourne Park as he looks to reclaim his crown from reigning Australian Open champion and World No.1 Jannik Sinner.

The 24-time grand slam champion has joined forces with long-time rival Andy Murray, who has agreed to take over as Djokovic’s coach. And the 37-year-old admits the pair will look to make a number of small tweaks to Djokovic’s game as he aims to stop the next generation of stars such as Sinner and World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz, who combined to claim all four majors in 2024.

“I’m not looking to transform my game completely… but I definitely am looking to improve,” Djokovic said after beating Hijikata. “Even if it’s the slightest percentage, every single shot that I have in my game, and maybe something that people don’t necessarily see is this court positioning, the transition play, the tactics.

“Physically … mentally, as well and ready to compete, whatever it takes, however many hours it takes with the youngsters. The week before Australian Open (we will) do a lot of video analysis of my main opponents, top guys, trying to understand how my game matches up.” Following Wednesday’s doubles match with Kyrgios, the Serb will next face French veteran Gael Monfils in the next round of the Brisbane International singles on Thursday.