Top-Seeded Pair Mektic and Venus Overcome Star Duo in Tie-Break
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios faced a narrow defeat in the second round of the Brisbane International doubles, losing to the top-seeded pair Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus. Despite a spirited comeback, the high-profile duo fell short in a deciding tie-break, with the final scoreline reading 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
Kyrgios’ Painful Return to Competition
For Nick Kyrgios, this match marked a challenging return to the court after an 18-month injury layoff. Earlier in the tournament, Kyrgios lost a three-set singles match to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, leaving him in significant discomfort.
“The defeat left me in throbbing pain,” Kyrgios admitted, casting doubt over his participation in the Australian Open later this month.
However, fulfilling his promise to partner with Djokovic in the doubles, Kyrgios managed to play through the pain, showing resilience throughout the match.
A Thrilling Encounter in Brisbane
The doubles clash was an intense affair:
- Mektic and Venus dominated the first set 6-2.
- Djokovic and Kyrgios responded with a strong second set, winning 6-3.
- The final tie-break saw Djokovic and Kyrgios lead 8-6, but a double fault by Djokovic proved pivotal, allowing their opponents to take the final four points and claim victory.
Nikola Mektic reflected on the win, saying:
“It’s an amazing feeling to start the year like this. We knew there would be moments like this against players of their caliber.”
Djokovic Eyes Singles Glory
Despite the doubles loss, Djokovic remains in contention in the singles competition as he pursues his 100th career ATP title. The Serbian star has advanced to the quarter-finals, where he will face France’s Gael Monfils.
