World Tennis League: Nick Kyrgios marks return to tennis for first time in 18 months with Paolini mixed doubles triumph

Nick Kyrgios has returned to tennis for the first time in 18 months and has sealed his opening win of the World Tennis League with a pivotal singles clash with Andrey Rublev yet to come in the UAE.

To start off with Elena Rybakina led from the front with wins over Halep and Paolini as well as defeating Halep 6-4 in the singles. She teamed up with Garcia for the doubles to defeat the Kites 7-6 with a narrow 7-5 win in the tie-break.

But with every point counting, a mere win for the Kites brings them back on terms. She won against Halep 6-4 with the score sat narrowly at 13-10. Kyrgios who decided not to play on the opening day made sure that Ruud would get some rest by teaming with Paolini who otherwise has played throughout.

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Garcia and Shapovalov made up the Falcons tandem and led 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 against the team. But they were broken right at the death by Kyrgios and Paolini who managed to craft an opportunity to strike and did so.

They sealed it 7-5 to add some vital points and now sit only one point behind. Next up sees Kyrgios face off against Rublev in an almost winner takes all albeit with Rublev's team currently having one more game so realistically Kyrgios may have to win by some margin or it will go to overtime and maybe even a super tie-break.

But Kyrgios has long flirted with a comeback and ahead of a vital few weeks going back home to Australia to play for the first time in a number of years, he is certainly back ready to roll again in what is a good format to test players ahead of the new season which is merely days away. Kyrgios for instance plays in Brisbane next week.

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