Djokovic is set to play doubles with Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International later this month, a warm-up tournament for the Australian Open.

The pair faced off in the 2022 Wimbledon final when the Australian fell in four sets to the now 24-time Major champion.

The 37-year-old hasn’t played since Djokovic lost to Jannik Sinner in the final of the Shanghai Masters in October, whilst Kyrgios hasn’t played a match since June 2023.

The pair will both be looking to achieve big things in 2025, and rise up the ATP rankings but will hope to get things started with a win in Brisbane.

A title that would remarkably only be Djokovic’s second in doubles.

Jonathan Erlich: Novak Djokovic’s partner for his only-ever doubles title

In 2010 Djokovic was knocked out in the third round of the Queen’s Club championships, a fan-favorite grass-court tournament.

He had entered the event as the number two seed, behind only Rafael Nadal, but was shocked by Belgium’s Xavier Malisse.

In any other year, the Serb would’ve moved straight on to preparing for Wimbledon, but in 2010, his attention turned to doubles.

Partnered with Israeli star Jonathan Erlich, Djokovic began his assault on the 2010 Queen’s Club doubles title.

In the first round, Djokovic and Erlich took down home-favorites Jonathan Marray, and Jamie Delgado in straight sets before things quickly got a lot more difficult.

Their following four matches all went down to deciding match tiebreaks, with the pair coming out on top every time.

Erlich, an experienced doubles star guided Djokovic to the title in London, as they beat Karol Beck and David Skoch in the final.

It was a huge moment for the former world number one, who claimed his only doubles title.

His Israeli partner, however, was no stranger to success on the doubles court, as he carved out a sensational career alongside his countryman Andy Ram.

Erlich and Ram won 16 doubles titles together, but their crowning moment came in January 2008, as they won their one and only Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The Israeli duo dominated in Melbourne, as they lifted the title without dropping a single set, having entered the competition as the eighth seeds.

Interestingly, Erlich picked up his first Grand Slam title at the same event as his future doubles partner, Djokovic, who won his first Major in Melbourne.

Erlich and Ram’s partnership was often successful, especially in Davis Cup competition, with their efforts in 2009 perhaps the most impressive.

Huge underdogs against Russia in the quarter-finals, Israel had a golden opportunity to qualify for the last four for the first time in the nation’s history.

Taking a shocking 2-0 lead thanks to wins from Harel Levy and Dudi Sela, Erlich and Ram had the opportunity to clinch their country’s spot in the next round.

Up against former world number one Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn, the Israelis produced a spell-binding performance to win in five sets.

The win prompted mass celebrations throughout Tel Aviv, as Erlich and Ram had booked a date with Spain in the semis.

They lost 4-1 in the next round, but that wouldn’t dampen their spirits as they had completed one of the biggest shocks in Davis Cup history.

Erlich continued to enjoy doubles success before he retired from the sport in 2022, where he received a touching message from his 2010 Queen’s partner.

“The best memory of my life in doubles was with you, you gave me this pleasure of winning the only doubles title in my life in Queens in 2010,” said Djokovic.

“It was one of the funnest weeks I’ve had on the tour, you’ve always been very friendly towards me, towards my team.

“Everybody loves you, Johnny [Erlich], everyone will miss you on the tour, you have been such a great example of persistence and professionalism.”

Who else has Novak Djokovic played doubles with during his tennis career?

Whilst Djokovic’s finest doubles moment came alongside Erlich, who else has he teamed up with during his 20 year career on the ATP Tour?

The Serb has played 144 doubles matches in his career to date, holding a losing record of 64 wins and 80 defeats.

He reached the final of two further doubles tournaments in 2007, alongside Radek Stepanek and in 2021, with Feliciano Lopez.

It was in 2010, the year he won his first doubles title, however, when he made the most headlines as he played alongside Nadal in Montreal.

The pair became the first world number one and world number two partnership since Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe in 1976.

They lost in the first round to the home wildcard pairing of Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil in straight sets.

Despite defeat, they had put a lot of eyes onto the doubles game, with a rare sighting of the world’s greatest players in action.

Montreal was the site of another significant Nadal and Djokovic moment three years later as the pair faced off in a fiery exchange in the 2013 semi finals.

During the third set, Nadal hit Djokovic with a backhand that led to one of the most iconic moments in recent memory.

The Serb stood still for a moment, before turning around to see his Spanish rival apologise, an apology that he seemingly did not accept, as he turned away.

Nadal eventually beat Djokovic, before taking down Raonic in the final to add to his Masters 1000 tally.

A thrilling moment in 2013, but Djokovic will want to make headlines for the right reasons as he heads to Australia later this month.

The Brisbane International starring Djokovic and Kyrgios is set to begin on December 30.

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