Thrilling doubles action as Djokovic and Kyrgios fall short in Brisbane.©(@PakPassionSport )
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios faced a heartbreaking exit in the second round of the men’s doubles at the Brisbane International. They fell to top-seeded duo Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus in a closely contested match. The defeat came after a dramatic tie-break, with Mektic and Venus prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 to secure their place in the next round.
Kyrgios, making his much-anticipated return to competitive tennis after an 18-month injury hiatus, had already endured a grueling singles match earlier in the tournament. The Australian was defeated in three sets by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, leaving him in what he described as “throbbing” pain. Despite the setback, Kyrgios honored his commitment to partner Djokovic in doubles, showing resilience and determination throughout the match.
The pairing of Novak Djokovic and Kyrgios faced a challenging start, losing the first set 6-2. However, the duo rallied in the second set, demonstrating their chemistry and skill to take it 6-3, forcing a decisive first-to-10-points tie-break. With victory within reach at 8-6, a costly double fault from Djokovic shifted the momentum. Mektic and Venus seized the opportunity, winning the following four points to clinch the match.
Speaking after the win, Mektic expressed his delight at facing such high-profile opponents. “Incredible,” he said. “I was thrilled when I saw them [Djokovic and Kyrgios]; I could play them on the first of January. It’s an amazing feeling to start the year like this, and we knew there would be points like that against players like this.”
Djokovic’s defeat in doubles does little to diminish his ongoing singles campaign. The Serbian star, aiming for his 100th career ATP title, has advanced to the quarter-finals, where he is set to face France’s Gael Monfils.
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Kyrgios’ participation in the Australian Open remains uncertain due to lingering physical concerns, so his return to competitive play has generated significant excitement. Meanwhile, Djokovic continues pursuing tennis history, further solidifying his group as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
