Nick Kyrgios Loses Comeback Match in Brisbane

Nick Kyrgios faced a tough return to singles tennis at the Brisbane International, losing to France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a closely contested match that ended with scores of 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3) after nearly two and a half hours. This match marked Kyrgios's first singles appearance since June 2023, following significant wrist and knee injuries that required surgery, raising concerns about his fitness during the match. Despite these challenges, Kyrgios demonstrated his skill and resilience, even winning a tiebreak in the second set, but ultimately fell short as Perricard secured victory with a series of aces. Women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also made headlines by winning her season-opener decisively against Renata Zarazua, showcasing her strong form ahead of the Australian Open. Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic will continue their campaign in the men's doubles on Wednesday against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus, with hopes of a successful run in that format. The event serves as a crucial lead-up to the Australian Open, beginning January 12, where both players are expected to compete.