Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka win season openers but Nick Kyrgios loses on return in Brisbane

BRISBANE – Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka launched their Australian Open singles preparations with straightforward wins on Dec 31 at the Brisbane International, but Nick Kyrgios lost on his return from injury.

Former world No. 1 Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam crown later in January in Melbourne, eased to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over wild card Rinky Hijikata.

The 37-year-old broke Hijikata once in the first set and twice in the second for a comfortable 74-minute win.

Djokovic, now ranked seventh in the world, was all business against the young Australian and always looked in control as he set up a last-16 clash against fellow veteran Gael Monfils.

“To start the new season with a win is obviously very important,” said the Serb, who is pursuing an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title. “But Hijikata was really good tonight and he made me work for it.”

Djokovic’s new coach Andy Murray missed his season opener due to a family skiing trip, but is offering advice from the slopes, with his employer hoping the Scot does not get injured.

The two were fierce adversaries on the court, playing each other 36 times, and fans went wild as they announced in November that the retired Murray would step into the coach’s box for Djokovic.

They appear to have struck up an easy rapport, even as Murray was a long way from the Brisbane International.

“He’s actually skiing at the moment,” Djokovic added. “He has a family skiing trip – sending my love to all the Murray family.

“I hope he doesn’t get injured skiing before he comes to Melbourne. That wouldn’t be great.

“We spoke before the match, we’re communicating daily, so I’m excited to have him in my team.

“For 20-plus years he’s been across the net. For the first time ever he’s on the same side of the court so it should be fun in Melbourne.”

The 37-year-old Murray responded with a video of himself gingerly gliding down a modest ski hill and saying: “I’m taking on some huge slopes as you can see but no injuries just yet.”

Australian firebrand Kyrgios, meanwhile, lost in three tight sets in his first singles match since June 2023.

He went down 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3) to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in almost 2½ hours.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist is making his comeback following wrist reconstruction and other injuries over the past few years.

Mpetshi Perricard said Kyrgios had shown enough to suggest that his comeback would be a success.

“Playing Nick here wasn’t a good matchup for me,” the 21-year-old said, when asked about playing Kyrgios in front of his home crowd. “He did some good things, he played with confidence.”

The Frenchman, who has risen from 205th in the world at the start of 2024 to his current ranking of 31st, fired down 36 aces.

Women’s world No. 1 Sabalenka kick-started her bid to win the Australian Open for a third consecutive time with a straightforward win after a sluggish start.

The Belarusian appeared bothered by the high humidity on Pat Rafter Arena, particularly during an error-strewn first set against Renata Zarazua.

But after breaking the Mexican at 5-4, the 26-year-old surged through the second set to wrap up the match 6-4, 6-0 in 65 minutes.

“The first match is always a tricky one,” Sabalenka said.

“It was a tricky start for me but I’m glad that I closed it out in the first set, and in the second set, I felt like whatever I tried to do it would work for me. So I’m really happy for the first win of the season.”

She is bidding to be the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997-99 to win three Australian Opens in succession.

She will play Yulia Putintseva next after the Kazakh’s 6-2, 7-5 win over American McCartney Kessler. AFP, REUTERS