The highly anticipated doubles pairing of Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic ended in a tight loss at the Brisbane International, but the bigger story may be the injury cloud hanging over the Australian Open preparations for both stars.
Kyrgios Battles Through Wrist Pain
Just one day after a grueling three-set singles loss, Nick Kyrgios took the court again alongside Djokovic, downplaying concerns over his surgically repaired wrist. The 29-year-old Aussie underwent a procedure in the off-season that involved drilling six holes in his hand and one in his arm – an injury and recovery process unprecedented for a professional tennis player.
Despite occasional grimaces and grabs at his right biceps, Kyrgios looked comfortable on serve, clocking speeds upwards of 200 km/h. His signature touch and reflexes also appeared largely unhampered. But in a match tiebreak that came down to just a few points, one has to wonder if the injury took any edge off the mercurial star’s normally electric game.
I’ve got six holes in my hand and one in my arm. No tennis player has ever had this surgery and tried to come back and play again. It’s all really experimental.
– Nick Kyrgios on his wrist injury
Djokovic Also Short of His Best
On the other side of the net, Novak Djokovic is on a quest for his 100th ATP title but looked a step slow in his first doubles action of the season. The 21-time Grand Slam champion hit a costly double fault late in the match tiebreak as he and Kyrgios let a lead slip away.
While not carrying a major injury like his doubles partner, Djokovic will need to quickly find his top gear with the Australian Open fast approaching. The Serbian superstar has been nearly unbeatable in Melbourne, with nine titles, but faces a deep field of challengers this year.
A Cloudy Crystal Ball for Australian Open
For Kyrgios, who has openly pondered if his wrist will hold up to the rigors of a deep singles run, it’s a tense waiting game to see how his body responds after each match. His thrilling but uneven performance against Ugo Humbert in the opening round revealed both the incredible shotmaking ability and physical fragility that have defined Kyrgios’ roller-coaster career.
Djokovic, meanwhile, faces a different sort of challenge: rapidly rediscovering his championship form after an up-and-down 2022 season. Barred from competing in Australia and the U.S. due to his unvaccinated status, the world No. 5 played a limited schedule but still managed to win Wimbledon. Whether he can quickly shake off the rust and fend off a new generation of challengers is one of the Australian Open’s biggest subplots.
No real protocol on how it’s going to be or how it’s going to pull up. It’s very sore at the moment. I guess it’s biting me in the arse right now.
– Kyrgios on the uncertainty around his wrist recovery
In the end, both Kyrgios and Djokovic departed Brisbane with more questions than answers. For Australia’s enigmatic fan favorite, it’s unclear if his body can withstand the grind of seven best-of-five matches. And for tennis’ most dominant player of the last decade, the battle is mental as much as physical – can Djokovic rediscover his aura of invincibility after an unsettling year?
The tennis world will be watching intently as two of the sport’s biggest names write the next chapter at the Happy Slam. Will it be a triumphant comeback for the hometown hero and the ageless legend? Or will fresh faces steal the spotlight at the first major of the year? The countdown is on to find out.
