Nick Kyrgios has admitted he thought he would never play competitive tennis at the highest level again after a series of injuries put his career on hold.

The Australian star is set to play his first match on the ATP Tour in 18 months at the Brisbane International, which gets underway on Sunday.

Kyrgios will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the men’s singles on Monday but will also form a dream doubles partnership with Novak Djokovic.

Kyrgios’ last match was in June 2023 at the Boss Open in Stuttgart, where he fell to a 7-5 6-3 defeat against China’s Wu Yibing, and he admits he does not know quite how to feel ahead of his return.

“I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level,” he said. “Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things.

“I’m obviously a little bit… I don’t know if I’d call it nervous. When I was hitting on the stadium, playing [Reilly Opelka] who’s also had a couple of injuries, I guess we just reflected.

“It was surreal to be back out there. I took it all in. I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis.”

Kyrgios has not competed at a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open, where he fell to a 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7(3) 6-4 defeat against Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals.

The 29-year-old joked that it will be a pleasure to give Djokovic the chance to play doubles with him.

“I saw Novak in the gym, [I’m] playing doubles with him,” he added. “There is a lot to be excited about, that I’m able to get out there and compete again.

“He kept messaging me over and over again. I was just like, I’ll give him a little handout and give him the pleasure of playing doubles with me.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. Look, a kid from Canberra gets to play with the greatest of all time in his home town in front of the fans is pretty special.

“It’s something that I’m able to tell people when it’s all said and done that I played doubles with him.