Nick Kyrgios to team up with Novak Djokovic in Brisbane blockbuster doubles pairing | Tennis News happymamay

Novak Djokovic says teaming up with Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International will be an enjoyable experience as he prepares for the Australian Open.

The duo disagreed in the past when Kyrgios described Djokovic as a “fool” and a “tool”, but since then a close friendship has developed between them after the last meeting between the three of them, in the 2022 Wimbledon final.

“It will be fun,” said Djokovic, who is using the tournament to prepare to win the Australian Open title for the 11th time in his career.

“We’ve texted about it and talked earlier at Wimbledon (this year) about playing together when he returns to the tour. We have the first opportunity straight away in the first week of the season.”

Djokovic will face a challenge on home soil in his opening match when the 37-year-old faces Australian Rinki Hijikata in the first round on Monday.

Top-seeded Djokovic, ranked No. 7 in the world, has not participated in competitions since reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters in October.

The Paris Olympic gold medalist and 24-time Grand Slam champion is playing in Brisbane for the first time since 2009.

“It’s good to be back. Frankly, I didn’t think I would come back,” said Kyrgios, who played only one singles match in the past two years due to knee, foot and wrist injuries. He will face Frenchman Giovanni Mbeche Pericard in singles. I’m going to get back to playing at this level, even going into an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things.

“I’m really excited to get out and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, and it’s interesting to be able to get out and compete again.”

The main draw of the Brisbane event will take place from Sunday to January 5 – Live on Sky Sports Tennis Channel – Before the start of the Australian Open on January 12.

Raducanu is ready for action in Auckland

The new tennis season has already begun, with the Fed Cup team event starting on Friday.

Great BritainWeakened by the absence of Jack Draper due to injury, they begin their campaign against… Argentina In Sydney on Monday before facing the hosts Australia Wednesday.

This could pit Katie Poulter against her fiancée Alex de Minaur, as the couple announced their engagement last week.

“Obviously there’s some amazing news on our end, but I think we kind of wanted it to calm down a little bit before the games started,” Poulter said of the timing.

“My private life is a little public right now. But as far as the things I do on the field, I’ll do my best every day to stay in my little bubble.”

Billy Harris replaces Draper as Britain’s top seed faces a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open due to a hip problem.

Emma Raducano She is seeded sixth at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against world number 117 Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie He faces another American, the educated Tian, ​​in the Hong Kong Open.

Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TVstreaming service now and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to more than 50 per cent of live sporting events this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.