Nick Kyrgios is well and truly back on the ATP Tour, although he has just exited the Brisbane International.
Kyrgios fell in the round of 32 of the ATP 250 tournament, losing 6-3, 6-4 to American Aleksandar Kovacevic.
However, Kyrgios is in the Brisbane doubles draw, and he’s already into the next round after winning his opener with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The Australian duo have a superb history together, having lifted the doubles trophy at the Australian Open in 2022.
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Kyrgios and Kokkinakis will be keen for a similar run at the Brisbane International, a tournament that the former said he loves playing after his singles loss.
When asked how it felt to be back out on the court, where it was suggested he received a lot of support from the fans, he said: “Yeah, no, it was good.
“Yeah, look, the last month I have had has been very eventful and a lot of fun. Obviously the result wasn’t how I wanted it to go today.
“It was nothing like… you know, I feel like the journey I have had with the Australian media and the Australian public hasn’t always been amazing, but I feel like now towards this part of my career, every time I walk out there, it’s always a lot of fun.
“I definitely felt a lot of love out there, and especially when there’s young kids chanting and enjoying their time out there, I feel as if I’m giving them a good show, and hopefully one day if they love tennis they can be out in that arena playing.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun being out there, especially in Brissy, definitely one of my favorite places to play.”
Nick Kyrgios confident of big crowds every time he plays
Controversial figure Kyrgios has often played the role of the villain in his tennis career, both on and off the court.
But he clearly has a big following in Australia, with the home favorite firmly believing he gave the Brisbane fans a great experience despite the loss.
He said: “I mean, look, me and Thanasi probably gave the crowd more entertainment than they have had all tournament probably. I gave them half. I gave them the Special K experience, I guess, on a tennis court, that is.
“But yeah, obviously today it was a quick match, but he played… he’s a world-class player, top 60 in the world. He served unbelievable, I thought.
“Apart from the first couple where he missed a couple of first serves, he was lights out. Obviously I played a loose game in the first set.
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“First match of the year for him, and then I make a couple of loose errors, haven’t played that much tennis, and the pressure off his shoulders comes off and he starts freeing up a bit, that’s tennis.
“It’s not like I got destroyed. But yeah, look, I think tomorrow night, you know, I think every time I play, the crowds are pretty packed.
“You know, I’m doing the best I can out here, and I just want to go out there and try and give them a shot. I mean, I’m losing, and I see my little nephew in the crowd, I realize, I’m trying to do the best I can.
“Whether or not I’m giving them Grand Slam finals, probably not, but yeah. I’m doing the best I can right now.”
Kyrgios has an immediate shot at redemption at the Brisbane International, with French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul awaiting him and Kokkinakis in the doubles round of 16.
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