Djokovic and Sabalenka shine in season openers, Kyrgios struggles in singles return

BRISBANE: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka kicked off their 2025 season with commanding straight-set victories at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, showcasing their early dominance on the court. However, Nick Kyrgios’ much-anticipated return to singles action did not go as planned.
Top-seeded Djokovic eased past Australian Rinky Hijikata with a clinical 6-3, 6-3 victory. The Serbian star, playing his first tour-level singles match since October, displayed precision with his serve and groundstrokes, leaving little room for Hijikata to mount a challenge. This win came just a day after Djokovic paired with Kyrgios in doubles to secure an opening-round victory. Djokovic now advances to face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the second round.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also had a strong start, cruising through her first-round match to signal her intent for the season ahead. While Djokovic and Sabalenka celebrated smooth openings, Kyrgios struggled to find his rhythm in his singles return, falling short of expectations.