Brisbane International: Nick Kyrgios on his ‘fun’ doubles partner Novak Djokovic

A cheeky Nick Kyrgios says he is partly the reason for Novak Djokovic’s new “fun” side with the pair set to debut as double partners in Brisbane. But the Aussie has tempered expectations.

A tongue-in-cheek Nick Kyrgios says he is partly to thank for a newfound “fun” side to Novak Djokovic as the pair prepare to debut their doubles partnership at the Brisbane International on Monday.

Kyrgios, 29, sent tongues wagging earlier this month with a social media post suggesting he and Djokovic could combine forces in Brisbane for the first tournament of the Australian summer.

That promise will come good on Monday, when the two take the court for the first time together on Pat Rafter Arena.

Separately, Kyrgios and Djokovic are the headline acts of the ATP 250 singles draw. Together, they will likely draw one of the biggest crowds of the tournament.

“I don’t know how it’s going to be – we might get absolutely snipped,” said Kyrgios of their doubles combination.

“We have never played doubles before. We might not win. Everybody thinks we’re going to mesh (but we are) two completely different personalities. See how it goes.”

Novak Djokovic interviewed by Nick Kyrgios during the 2024 Australian Open. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Monday’s twilight match on Pat Rater Arena will be the first chance Aussie tennis fans get to see both players in action this summer.

Djokovic finally broke through for Olympic Gold in Paris this year but otherwise, the 24-time Grand Slam champion had a down year by his incredibly lofty standards.

Kyrgios meanwhile is on the comeback trail from a career-threatening wrist injury that has kept him out for the better part of 18 months.

In that time he and Djokovic have formed an unlikely friendship, which blossomed at the Australian Open in January and continued throughout the year.

Plugged-in tennis fans felt a shift in Djokovic’s demeanor in the weeks and months following his Gold Medal triumph in Paris.

It was one of the last major absences in the super Serbian’s trophy cabinet and with that secured, the 37 year old appeared to almost immediately settle into a more relaxed lifestyle.

Asked if he had learned anything from Djokovic over the past 18 months, Kyrgios joked the opposite was actually true.

“He’s an amazing player – the greatest ever … I wouldn’t say I’m going out there and (saying), ‘Oh, my god, Novak, you’re the best, please give me advice.

“I’m not like that. I’m just going to go out there to have some fun.

“I think I actually help him more, because he’s got to the point in his career (where) he wants to obviously have a bit of fun.

“You don’t get to a position like that and you don’t get to have a career like that without serious discipline day-in, day-out. Now he’s starting to have a bit of fun.

“Employing Andy Murray as his coach, he is looking for a change. He’s playing doubles with arguably the most controversial tennis player.

“He is, I think, to the point where he wants to have something fresh, have a bit of fun (and) remember that he can reward himself at the end of the day. It doesn’t always have to be super, super straightforward, no fun at all.”

The Djokovic-Kyrgios pairing headlines an entertaining day two at the Brisbane International, which will also feature a second-up battle on Pat Rafter Arena between Australia’s world No.26 Jordan Thompson and former Wimbledon finalist, Matteo Berrettini.

“Big serve, big forehand … he’s a big player,” said Thompson of his Italian opponent.

“Final of Grand Slams, semis of Grand Slams – (I’m) going to have my work cut out. Hopefully he has an off day with the serve and the forehand … he rarely does.”

Jordan Thompson will look to building off a career best year. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Thompson’s meteoric rise up the rankings began in Brisbane last year, when he bested Rafael Nadal in an instant classic en-route to the semi-finals.

The 30 year old is scheming another deep run in Brisbane this week but has one eye on next month’s Australian Open and breaking through into the second week of his home slam for the first time.

“Aussie Open hasn’t been my best Grand Slam – that’s definitely the goal,” he said.

“I want to be making the third and fourth round. It’s the only slam I haven’t made it past the second round singles and doubles.”

Originally published as Brisbane International: Nick Kyrgios on his ‘fun’ doubles partner Novak Djokovic