Nick Kyrgios' much-anticipated return to singles competition ended in a swift and worrying defeat, casting serious doubt over his prospects for the upcoming Australian Open. The Australian, playing his first ATP Tour singles match in nearly ten months, was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 6-4 by American Aleksandar Kovacevic at the Brisbane International in just 66 minutes.
A Shadow of Former Self on Pat Rafter Arena
The capacity crowd at Pat Rafter Arena on Tuesday witnessed a performance that starkly contrasted with the player once ranked world number 13. Kyrgios, who has undergone knee and wrist surgeries and played only five tour matches in 2025, offered little resistance. He was broken twice by the world number 58 and managed to win just a single point on Kovacevic's formidable first serve.
The 30-year-old appeared physically compromised throughout the match, wearing an ankle brace, tape on his wrist, and a plaster on his face. His mobility was severely limited, and he was seen wincing and clutching his right elbow after serving, a clear sign of ongoing discomfort. This display seemed to vindicate the Australian Open officials' reported reluctance to grant him a main draw wildcard for Melbourne Park.
Wildcard Decision Looms After Lacklustre Display
Kyrgios' preparation for the summer had been limited to exhibition matches, including the 'Battle of the Sexes' against Aryna Sabalenka, and a promising doubles win with Thanasi Kokkinakis. However, his lack of competitiveness in Brisbane surprised even his opponent. "To be honest, I was expecting a little more than that in terms of adversity today," Kovacevic admitted post-match, noting the difficulty of scouting a player absent from the tour.
With just three men's singles wildcards remaining for the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January, the question of Kyrgios' readiness for best-of-five-set tennis is paramount. His last appearance at Melbourne Park in 2025 ended in a first-round, three-set defeat to Britain's Jacob Fearnley, after which he pessimistically remarked he might not play singles there again.
A New Role in Australia's Summer of Tennis?
The situation presents an unusual opportunity for Tennis Australia. Kyrgios has already committed to featuring in the new 'One Point Slam' exhibition during 'Opening Week', a novelty event offering $1 million. He has also stated he would be willing to enter Australian Open qualifying if a main draw wildcard is not forthcoming.
This could inadvertently serve the tournament's goal of expanding its appeal. Three qualifying matches featuring the charismatic but currently undercooked Kyrgios would undoubtedly draw significant attention, potentially helping to transform two weeks of elite tennis into a broader three-week festival. For a player whose profile now arguably outweighs his on-court prowess, becoming a headline act for the qualifying rounds might be a fitting, if unexpected, legacy.
Kyrgios has at least one more doubles match in Brisbane and a scheduled appearance at the Kooyong exhibition next week to state his case. However, based on his performance against Kovacevic, the path back to singles relevance at the highest level appears increasingly steep for the one-time Wimbledon finalist.
