Back with a bang in Brisbane. Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, a pairing once deemed unthinkable given their past rivalry, have captivated audiences at the Brisbane International doubles event. This unexpected partnership, first conceived during Wimbledon, has materialized in Brisbane, marking Kyrgios’s triumphant return to the court after a career-threatening injury in 2023. The duo made their debut on Pat Rafter Arena on the tournament’s opening night, facing Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies. During this match, Djokovic did something “out of the world”.

A pivotal moment in their high-octane match arrived in the tenth game when Djokovic executed a dazzling around-the-net backhand winner, electrifying the Brisbane crowd and earning enthusiastic praise from his partner.

Inspired by the surge of energy, Kyrgios responded with a breathtaking lob winner to create a set point at 5-4, 30-40. He then unleashed a blistering forehand pass that landed inches from the tramline, securing the first set. The duo maintained their composure in a tense Match Tie-break, ultimately prevailing, 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-8, after one hour and forty-eight minutes of exhilarating play, culminating in a jubilant chest bump celebration.

“The around the net was a great set up by Mies, who played a really nice angled short volley, so I had an opening, and I went for it,” said Djokovic, when asked to compare his winner with a tweener that Kyrgios pulled off in the second set.

“It was 5-4 to us but 30/0 [to them], and we won that point and the energy of the crowd got us going. Then we won that game and the first set. Nick’s tweener is definitely tougher to play under the circumstances. We tried to get the crowd on our side and get that energy and just use it for some good tennis.”

Kyrgios was also left in awe as he was all praises for the 24-time-Grand Slam champion: “That’s just an iconic Novak moment. The way the guy moves around the court, I’ve never moved like that in my life. I was just loving it. The tweener is I guess more of an iconic shot that the kids love. The fans in here wanted me to underarm serve, but I was trying to be professional! I don’t know which Nick Kyrgios they want. Do you want tweeners, or do you want me to focus and get a win? I tried to find that balance tonight as much as I could.”

This newfound friendship is a far cry from their earlier days.

Before COVID-19, Kyrgios didn’t shy away from expressing his disdain for Djokovic, famously calling him “a tool” obsessed with being liked. Djokovic responded to his statements by saying, “Off the court, I don’t have much respect for him, to be honest. That’s where I’ll close it. I really don’t have any further comments for him, his own comments for me, or anything else he’s trying to do.“

But times have changed.

Kyrgios was one of Djokovic’s biggest supporters during the Serbian’s controversial deportation from Australia amid the pandemic. Since then, their relationship has taken a complete 180, evolving into a bromance that no one saw coming.

The doubles duo have become a unit off the court as well.

Novak Djokovic backs Nick Kyrgios’s jabs at the doping allegations of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek

Tennis had a storm of doping allegations recently, as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, one of the most prominent players on tour, tested positive for prohibited substances. Swiatek tested positive for TMZ, that she ingested through a sleeping pill for which she served a one month suspension by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Meanwhile Sinner was contaminated with Clostebol, which was transferred to him by his physiotherapist during a massage. Sinner was not given a suspension and was cleared of any wrongdoing by the ITF. However, the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) reopened the case. The verdict is awaited and is reported to be out sometime after the Australian Open.

The news has garnered varied reactions from players and fans alike. Nick Kyrgios has been one of the most vocal critic of the situation. At his Brisbane International press conference, Kyrgios didn’t mince words and said, “Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look, tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it but no one wants to speak about it, it’s awful.”

Djokovic echoed Kyrgios’s concerns, though in a more measured tone, during his own press conference.

The former World No.1 said, “It’s not pleasant, but at the same time, we live in a world where everyone has the right to express themselves, especially on social media. Nick has expressed himself very well about the entire Jannik doping case, and he is right about the transparency and incoherence of the protocols and the comparisons between the various cases. We have seen many players in the past, and even now, who have been suspended for not even undergoing anti-doping controls and for not communicating their availability, and some lower-ranking players who have been waiting for the resolution of their case for more than a year.”

He further continued, “It’s not a good image for our sport,” Djokovic said. “I’m just questioning the way the system works and why certain players aren’t treated the same as others. Maybe some ranking reasons are behind it or some players have more financial backing and stronger legal teams to tackle these cases.”

Kyrgios will next face a stern test in the singles draw, facing the burgeoning talent of French big-server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Their first-round encounter is scheduled for Tuesday. Following this, Djokovic will make his long-awaited return to singles action, facing Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata. This will be Djokovic’s first tour-level singles match since his defeat to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final last October.

This duo is in sync on and off the court, whether it be serving aces or opinions. Can they lift the Brisbane trophy together?