Brisbane International: Nick Kyrgios limps out of return as Australian Open hopes hang on by.a thread

Despite his off court misdemeanours and not being 100% for a number of years, Nick Kyrgios continues to be a box office attraction and this proved again on Tuesday but also proved that this miracle return still has a long way to go yet.

Barely a spare seat in the house at the Brisbane International, a long awaited return which proved to be one to forget for Kyrgios as he limped out of the tournament being well beaten by Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-4. Kyrgios is now more of a show than a sustained effort to be great again and although he still has dreams of grandeur to live in this box of still being a top tier talent, the reality screams a long way from being the case.

Limping to a pretty easy defeat against the American, it was his first match in 12 months. On the other side of the net a few hours later was his Battle of the Sexes opponent Aryna Sabalenka who eased through her opening win and actually used that defeat as fuel. Kyrgios looked gassed in that game and didn't look himself out there against Kovacevic.

Hitting 11 winners, it was still a showcase of the brilliant best of the mercurial Aussie talent but as ever it was few and far between. Kovacevic hit 28 and Kyrgios couldn't move the way he once was. He played doubles with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis and this took its toll as his left ankle was bandaged up and his mobility suffered. His big serve which towers at 200km/h also affects his right elbow. Once a pretty mesmerizing sight and one that looked fairly effortless and perhaps lazy it was that good is now a bit of a chore.

Pretty down on himself after losing out to Kovacevic, it takes a lot to get used to for Kyrgios going from being the man to struggling to beat players that in his mind he should be beating easily during his pomp. That might be the right assessment but he also linked himself to Kokkinakis, Nishikori, Del Potro among others in players that went from competing for Slams to suddenly thinking over their careers. Going into the Australian Open, the Kyrgios show roars on but whether it gets top billing in Melbourne remains to be seen.

"I'm never going to be … I think it's unfair," Kyrgios said post match as per ABC.

"I use Thanasi as an example, or myself, or [Juan Martín] Del Potro or [Dominic] Thiem or [Kai] Nishikori, we look at some of these people that were at the top of their game competing for grand slams, and then you have parts of your body that just fail and can't take the load of being at that top level.

"That's what happens. I mean, it's so hard for me to go out there, even on the practice courts sometimes … there was a point in my life, in 2022, when I was winning multiple titles in a year … there was actually a delusion [that] I genuinely thought I was the best player in the world.

"When you're at the top of the sport, I genuinely thought I was unbeatable. I'd go out on court, and I thought no-one can genuinely beat me.

"You actually have that confidence and delusion that you are that person. After you have these surgeries … I guess they kind of pull you down and it's like you don't have that belief anymore. It's sad, in a way, but that's just the reality. It's just sport so you can't be too upset. That's why you have to really be grateful for moments like that doubles match the other night, and the fact that I got through this and I'm ready to play doubles tomorrow, I'm still extremely happy with myself and proud of myself.

"There was a time where I won this tournament, and now, even just going out there, there is no shame in losing. I think people now, they're afraid to lose and afraid to go out there and not play their best. But that's not reality. So even me going out there and taking another loss on the chin, to someone that, to most tennis fans and people, to someone I shouldn't lose to, but I'm not afraid to lose."