In what appears to be a change in tactics as far as preparations go, Novak Djokovic will enter the Australian Open having played both, singles and doubles at the Brisbane International.
Djokovic, who did not win a single Grand Slam last year despite clinching gold at the Paris Olympics, looks to be primed to feature in the Brisbane International doubles draw as well. And rather surprisingly, he is expected to partner with Nick Kyrgios in the competition.
Kyrgios, who had made a reference to partnering with Djokovic in doubles competition way back in 2022, re-shared the same story from way back then and said: “Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there”.
The former world number one hasn’t been involved too regularly in the doubles circuit having played one match in 2024 (in Davis Cup) and five matches in the year prior to that. He last featured in the final of a doubles competition in 2021 where he made the title-deciding round of the Mallorca Open.
Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios has been laid low by injury for a while now, having last featured in a competition in Stuttgart in 2023. Djokovic, on the other hand, featured in an exhibition tournament in Riyadh as a build-up to the new season where he lost to Jannik Sinner in three, hard-fought sets.
As a result of the kind of season that Djokovic had last year, and more vitally with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner winning a couple of Grand Slams each, the Serb enters the Australian Open at 9/2 (with bet365) odds to bring back the title for a record 11th time.
This has lengthened from the 4/1 odds on offer for a Djokovic title win after his decision to bring in Andy Murray as his coach, replacing Goran Ivanisevic who was with him till early last year.
Murray has been linked up with Djokovic till the end of the Australian Open campaign following which they will re-assess the partnership.
