After dazzling alongside Novak Djokovic on his injury comeback on Monday afternoon, Nick Kyrgios returned to the court on Tuesday for his first singles start after his long injury hiatus.
Unfortunately for the Aussie tennis sensation it was not the return that he may have wanted, with the 29-year-old being knocked out at the first round of the Brisbane Invitational.
While Kyrgios again showcased his brilliance, he would ultimately suffer a 7-6 6-7 7-6 defeat by French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, in what was a thrilling match at the Pat Rafter Arena.
Perhaps telling of the 29-year-old’s brilliance, he followed up his impressive display alongside Djokovic on Monday with another excellent performance against the world No 31, Perricard around the court with some masterful strokes and quashed any doubts over his match fitness, despite having barely played over the last 18 months.
But while many fans will be delighted to see the former Australian Open doubles champion back on the court, concerns arose at the end of the first set when Kyrgios appeared to show some discomfort in his right wrist.
The Aussie tennis star had undergone wrist reconstruction surgery earlier this year after a ligament injury to the same wrist had kept him out of action for the past year.
Kyrgios, who had previously said it was a ‘miracle’ that he was able to continue to play, was seen wearing some strapping on the wrist, but appeard to come off the court during the interval and called for his physio.
The medics were seen providing treatment and more strapping to his wrist.
Despite that, the Australian star continued to play, bouncing back to win a tie break in the second set before the match would come right down to the wire.
Neither player was able to break their opponent in the final set, with Perricard beating Kyrgios on his serve twice, winning the final three points of the tie break to claim victory.
There was a flashpoint during the match in which Kyrgios was seen venting his frustrations to chair umpire Christian Rask.
The umpire had asked the Aussie star to politely refrain from using expletive language after he agonisingly missed a break in the second set, having gone 3-2 up.
Perricard showcased his power to fend off Kyrgios’ advances, saving two break points, and the game.
Kyrgios was heard telling the umpire: ‘Surely you understand my frustrations.’
Perricard, 21, is coming off the back of a breakout year on the ATP Tour, that has seen him shoot up the rankings from 205 at the end of 2023 to 31, having clinched victory at the ATP250 event in Lyon and more recently at the ATP500 in Basel.
He sensationally served 36 aces during the match and could have taken the game away from Kyrgios in the final set, with the Aussie star saving a break point in the second game before the pair went to a tiebreaker.
Despite the defeat, Kyrgios was given a standing ovation by fans inside the Pat Rafter Arena, lifting his hand in the air to ackowledge the home support as he departed the court.
He’ll return to the court on Wednesday alongside Djokovic to face Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus in the second round of the men’s doubles.
More to follow…
