Novak Djokovic is adding more entries to his schedule plan for 2025 and now it has been confirmed he will also be playing doubles in his first event of next year.

The identity of the player Djokovic will be playing with will excite tennis fans around the world as the returning Nick Kyrgios has been confirmed he will be teaming up with the 24-time Grand Slam champion for the ATP Tour event in Brisbane next month.

Kyrgios has lived through a colourful relationship with Djokovic as he started out as an outspoken critic of the Serbian legend and has become a close friend in recent years.

The pair’s relationship changed when he backed Djokovic in his stand-off with the Australian government over Covid vaccines ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, with that story ending when the defending champion was deported from the country.

The pair then faced off in the 2022 Wimbledon final, with Djokovic coming out on top against the big-serving Aussie.

Kyrgios has not played many matches since that appearance on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, but he has confirmed he is on the comeback trail and his first game back on the ATP Tour since a brief appearance in June 2023 will come alongside Djokovic in the doubles event in Brisbane.

“Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there,” said Kyrgios, in a post on Instagram featuring an image of his walk-out with Djokovic ahead of their Wimbledon final two years ago.

The extra time on court will be welcomed by Kyrgios and Djokovic, who is also on the comeback trail after playing in just one ATP Tour event since his surprise early exit at the US Open.

Kyrgios’ move to play doubles confirms he feels ready to play a full schedule after some encouraging signs on the practice court in recent weeks.

“Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve felt in two years,” he told 9News Melbourne.

“I played that amazing year in 2022. Then at the finals in Wimbledon and US Open, that’s when I started feeling some issues in my wrist. I had that wrist reconstruction and now I’m feeling amazing.

“It was a 15 miracle per cent chance that I was going to get back to playing at this level and here we are. To get back out there in front of the home fans is going to be sick.

“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game.

“I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.

“But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That will be my deep motivation.”

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Australia’s former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash suggested the challenge facing Kyrgios into perspective, as he suggested his two-year exile from the sport would be a big problem.

“I actually haven’t paid too much attention to his comeback, but Nick is certainly talented and can do anything if he is fit,” Cash told Tennis365 in his role as an ambassador for the Bank of China Hong Kong Open 2025.

“He’s been out for two years and that’s a long time. He needs to be super-fit to get through matches back-to-back.

“Over three sets, he will probably be okay to do it, but can he do it over five sets in a Grand Slam?

“He’s always had the ability, but it is issues with his mind and his body that have held him back.

“It’s good that he’s playing. There’s nothing worse than being injured and I have known enough about that in my career.

“Look, let’s see how Nick goes. The talent is there, but you would question the physical side of it in longer matches when you have been out for so long.”

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