When two of tennis’ biggest personalities team up, fireworks are guaranteed on and off the court. Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios proved just that as they kicked off the 2025 season in spectacular fashion at the Brisbane International. The duo, playing doubles together for the first time, delivered a masterclass of tennis mixed with pure entertainment, defeating Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-8. The pairing, which had been long-awaited by fans, lived up to the hype—not just in their play but also in their playful banter.

Upon his arrival in Brisbane, Kyrgios, who made his first appearance on court since June 2023, had quipped, “Of course he is, yeah. I mean, everyone thinks it’s a pleasure playing with him—it’s actually a pleasure playing with me. Let’s be real.” After the match today, Djokovic couldn’t resist responding to Kyrgios’s cheeky pre-match comments, joking during the on-court interview.

The former World No.1 said, “That was awesome! An amazing atmosphere. Great to be back. I want to thank Nick for playing. He said the other day it should be a pleasure to play with him. And it is. It is a pleasure. I’m glad to share the court with him on his comeback. I haven’t played many doubles matches in the last five years. Whatever Nick was saying, I was following actually.”

Beyond the humor, Kyrgios also expressed genuine appreciation for the chance to team up with Djokovic, especially on his home soil. The Aussie tennis player said, “I think we wanted to play one time at least before either his career ends or mine finishes as well. To finally do it here, in front of these fans, is special. That’s what tennis is about—two personalities coming together and having some fun out there.”

And the fun they had!

The match, lasting 1 hour and 48 minutes, was filled with highlight-reel moments. Djokovic left the crowd stunned with a jaw-dropping around-the-net backhand winner late in the first set, while Kyrgios drew cheers with a flashy tweener in the second set. Their on-court chemistry and their ability to make tennis look effortless had the Brisbane crowd on its feet throughout the match.

The excitement for this match had been built up as the dynamic between Djokovic and Kyrgios continued to unfold off the court.

Nick Kyrgios on partnering with Novak Djokovic and ‘picking his brain’

Nick Kyrgios is one of the few players who can proudly proclaim that they have bested Novak Djokovic in a tennis match. The 29-year-old has met the Serbian player thrice in his career. Interestingly, Kyrgios boasts a head-to head where he comes out on top with 2 wins against him. The last time they met was at the Wimbledon final in 2022, the time since they started concocting this doubles partnership idea.

With getting a chance to play the 24-time- Grand Slam champion, did Kyrgios try to “pick his brain” for some tennis tips?

When asked this question in an interview before the Brisbane International tournament, he replied, “I mean, you’re acting like I’m not a decent tennis player. Like, I’ve beaten the guy twice. Look, he’s an amazing player, the greatest ever to play the court. But I’m not going out there like, ‘Oh, my God, Novak, you’re the best. Please give me advice.’ I’m just going to go out there and have some fun.”

In true Kyrgios fashion, he also joked that Djokovic might benefit more from this pairing than he does:

“I think I actually help him more. He’s at a point in his career where he’s looking to have a bit of fun. You don’t achieve what he has without serious discipline every single day. Now, I think he’s loosening up, enjoying himself more. And hey, playing doubles with me—one of the most controversial players out there? That’s definitely fun for him!”

For the fans, though, this doubles team-up is an absolute treat. And there’s more to look forward to—Djokovic and Kyrgios will return to the court in the next round against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

On the singles side, both stars have tough matches ahead. Kyrgios will face big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while Djokovic takes on Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata in his first singles match since his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final in October.

Whether they’re playing doubles or singles, one thing is clear: Djokovic and Kyrgios know how to bring entertainment to the court. Will they conquer the Brisbane courts together?