Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, playing doubles together for the first time, exited the Brisbane International in the second round on Wednesday. The wild-card entrants lost a hard-fought match against the top seeds, Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus. The final score was 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
A crucial moment in the match tiebreak occurred at 8-6, when Djokovic double-faulted.This allowed Mektic and Venus to win the remaining four points and secure the victory.
“Incredible,” Mektic said to the sold-out crowd. “I was very happy when I saw 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.”
The pair had impressed fans in their first-round match. Their energetic performance at Pat Rafter Arena generated considerable excitement and applause. They displayed good teamwork and dynamic play.
Kyrgios’ return to singles after an 18-month injury layoff wasn’t as successful. He lost his opening singles match on Tuesday.
Djokovic, however, started his singles campaign with a win. He now faces Gael Monfils, against whom he holds a remarkable 19-0 head-to-head record.
The doubles partnership between Djokovic and Kyrgios, though brief, offered a glimpse of their potential. Their appearance at the Brisbane International created some memorable moments at the start of the new tennis season.
Their first-round win showcased their on-court synergy and entertained the crowd. This win thrilled fans.
