Nick Kyrgios blown away by historic onslaught in singles return as new era dawns

Nick Kyrgios made an impressive return to the singles tour on New Year’s Eve - but in the end he was left helpless against an ominous force.

Nick Kyrgios is back - but it’s tennis that is bigger than ever.

The Aussie made his long-awaited return to the singles tour on Tuesday night but was given a first-hand look at what could be the future of the sport.

Kyrgios showed he still has the game to compete with most players in the world as he took his three-set match against young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to three tiebreakers.

But behind a 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) scoreline was a simply stunning 36-15 ace count - and for perhaps the first time in his career Kyrgios was on the receiving end of a serving lesson.

“What a battle,” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram post-match. “This guy is gonna be a problem for a long time.”

Most casual Aussie tennis fans had likely never heard of the 21-year-old from Lyon - he lost in the third round of qualifying in his first appearance at the Australian Open in 2024.

But Perricard is a monster at 203cm and nearly 100kg and began to announce himself as the season wore on, making the fourth round at Wimbledon before winning his first ATP 500 title at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October.

He claimed the scalps of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Holger Rune and Ben Shelton - and showed off his other-worldly serve by failing to be broken all tournament.

So yes, this was hardly a gentle re-entry to the sport for Australian tennis’ biggest name, who ended an 18-month lay-off during which he had wrist surgery.

Nick Kyrgios is back. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

But there’s new threats on tour, like Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

But on New Year’s Eve the biggest show in tennis was back - and before a ball was struck an overeager youngster attempted to steal the spotlight, delivering a coin toss that looked like it was inspired by the two big servers about to do battle.

But the kid reached a little too much, telling Kyrgios to select to serve after he made the correct call.

“Just because you’ve said that, I’ll return,” Kyrgios said.

He may have regretted the decision, because Perricard immediately began raining down ace after ace - hitting line after line - in a historic display of serving.

The advantage Kyrgios has had over almost every opponent his entire career was suddenly reversed - and he was left looking in bemused fashion at his player box on several occasions.

After Perricard charged through the first set tie-breaker, Kyrgios continued to look helpless in the return game.

Nick Kyrgios was left helpless at times. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

“Kyrgios now resorting to guessing where Perricard is serving. He’s over 200km/h on second serves,” Aussie tennis great Paul McNamee tweeted. “So, remarkable as it is, he’s serving bigger than Kyrgios… that is a first, and new territory for Nick, and the sport.”

There were slightly concerning signs when Kyrgios appeared bothered by his dodgy wrist.

Nick Kyrgios wrapped tape around the wrist he had surgery on.

But in encouraging signs he battled on and in a period of play that will give him huge confidence ahead of the Australian Open, he managed to work his way on top.

Kyrgios lifted his game to grab the second set before the ace-hitting reached comical levels in the third.

At one point the pair combined to win seven points in a row with aces as the rallies Kyrgios might have been looking for to test his fitness were few and far between.

In the end it was Perricard who played better when it mattered most as he looks like a player who can do major damage at Melbourne Park.

“No breaks of serve in 36 games so a bit of a tough watch,” McNamee added. “But Nick looked good when he could get into a rally ... I’d say a decent start for him.”