Brisbane International 2025: Nick Kyrgios loses opening round to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in first singles match since June 2023
ATP
On a night that features Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, it was Nick Kyrgios who perhaps was the star attraction on Tuesday to see how he looked on his return to tennis for the first time since June 2023 at the Brisbane International and it was a first round defeat to Giovanni Mpethsi Perricard.
Kyrgios lost out 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in favour of the ace machine that is the young Frenchman who sent down 36 aces in all during the match with both players using their serves as a weapon to ease through the service holds.
This was evidenced with three tie-breaks in the contest as Mpetshi Perricard down the stretch just about had enough to deny the home hero in probably the biggest match in terms of media spotlight of his young career.
Kyrgios was up to his usual tricks including an underarm serve as fans were treated to the showman edition. But also there was some fragility there including with his injured wrist as he had to tape it up at one point and appeared in discomfort.
He did say though in the intervening period before his return that his injury would be day to day and that it would be something he has to manage over being miraculously healed. Such was the rampant nature of each others serves, Mpetshi Perricard was the only player in the opening stanza to get a break chance as he went 40-30 up on the Kyrgios serve at 4-3 but he couldn't take it. But he dominantely took the tie-break.
Second set ironically won by Kyrgios also had a similar vantage point as the Aussie went 40-15 up on Mpetshi Perricard's serve, the latter got himself out of trouble but was well beaten in the tie-break. It was even more emphatic service holds in the final set as no player gave an inch but the Frenchman broke serve at either end of the tie-break to breeze through 7-3 in the end.
Kyrgios interestingly will be a question of what he will do next and whether he will play any further tournaments before the Australian Open or whether he will merely head to Melbourne with his fragility of his wrist also in mind. The signs were there but against a young hungry Frenchman like Mpetshi Perricard, it was never going to be easy.
GMP goes 4 for 4 🤯#BrisbaneInternational pic.twitter.com/uTSqumZcD1
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 31, 2024
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