Novak Djokovic AND Nick Kyrgios will team up to play doubles at the Brisbane International, Kyrgios published Monday in social media.
“Doubles in Brisbane. See you soon,” Kyrgios wrote on his Instagram story, along with a photo from their meeting at Wimbledon in 2022.
They became friends after Kyrgios called the 24-time Grand Slam champion a “stupid” and a “tool”.
The ATP 250 event will run from December 29 to January 5 and will be a preparation for the Australian Open, which will start on January 12.
Brisbane International organizers did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.
Djokovic (37) and Kyrgios (29) have faced each other three times on the ATP Tour. The Australian won the first two games in 2017 before losing in four sets in the 2022 Wimbledon final.
Kyrgios, who is also scheduled to play at the World Tennis League gala in Abu Dhabi on December 19-22, has played only one singles match in the past two years due to knee, foot and wrist injuries.
He is ready to return to singles competition in Brisbane and will play at the Australian Open as a protected 21st, where he will reunite with Thanasi Kokkinakis in men’s doubles.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, nicknamed “Special Ks” as juniors, won their only major title in 2022 at Melbourne Park.
The news of the Djokovic-Kyrgios pairing comes less than two weeks after Djokovic formally announced his intention to play in Brisbane in preparation for playing for his 11th Australian Open title.
“I am excited to begin my Australian swing at Brisbane International and to compete again at the Pat Rafter Arena,” Djokovic said in a December 4 statement.
The report included information from Reuters and the Associated Press.
