Nick Kyrgios disappointed in the opening match of the 2026 season

Perhaps doubles play suits the current physical condition of the Australian "bad boy" better.

The comeback of Nick Kyrgios in the men's singles event ended quickly as the Australian lost convincingly to Aleksandar Kovacevic in the opening round of the 2026 Brisbane International this morning on January 6. The match lasted only 66 minutes, with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in favor of the American player.

This was Kyrgios's first singles match on the ATP Tour since March last year and only his seventh match in the past three years. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up after a long period struggling with injuries and multiple surgeries on his knee and wrist, was unable to make a difference against a stable and efficient opponent.

Kyrgios started the match reasonably well but quickly faded due to arm issues. Unforced errors on his service games caused him to fall behind early. In the first set, the Australian missed a drop shot and then a crucial forehand volley, losing a break when the score was 3-4. In the second set, although he held serve to level at 4-4, the home "bad boy" lost another break after a long series of points, showing that his fitness and touch were not at their best.

Post-match statistics clearly reflected the disparity: Kovacevic, ranked 58th in the world, recorded 27 winners, while Kyrgios managed only 10, barely putting pressure on his opponent's serve.

Currently, Kyrgios's wildcard entry into the Australian Open is still uncertain. He is expected to participate in the Kooyong Classic next week, but his immediate playing future remains unclear. For now, Kyrgios will stay in Brisbane to continue competing in the men's doubles event alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.