Preview Men's Brisbane International 2025: Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios star in season opener

The 2025 season officially starts over the next week with the Brisbane International between December 29 - January 5 encroaching both this and next year. Our preview looks ahead to the ATP 250 of the two with Novak Djokovic leading the way.

While in WTA, it will be Aryna Sabalenka who is the leading light. Both are set to be involved in Brisbane over the next week. As well as Djokovic in Brisbane, we also get Nick Kyrgios, Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune among others.

Djokovic takes different tact going into 2025

Djokovic for instance usually doesn't play a warm-up. He has usually shirked the idea and albeit played United Cup only did so realistically as he was still World No.1 and could get his nation into the event. But aside from that, it is usually minimal events. A tactic which has worked in the past but hasn't done over the past year.

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Such evidence was the clay court when he went to Geneva trying to chase ranking points and match practice when he was losing early in tournaments. He likely will devise a different plan this season. As he gets older and the milestones are very much minimal now, it is likely one last push to achieve them including a 25th Grand Slam.

He will face Rinky Hijikata to begin his title quest in Brisbane. Then it could be Gael Monfils who has a torrid record against him. The likely seed in his wake is Alexei Popyrin, the home hero that won Canada and wiped him out of the US Open. Aside from that, Reilly Opelka or Matteo Arnaldi could lurk. Not the hardest draw but not the easiest in the slightest.

There is also the Andy Murray of it all. He won't be in Brisbane it seems but has been training his new charge (that still sounds strange) over the past few weeks and presumably will join him at the Australian Open. A highly touted partnership, will it bear fruit or will it be further stagnation?

Return of Kyrgios as Dimitrov defends title

As many waited for the draw in the early hours of Saturday morning past the time it was due to be released, it had more intrigue perhaps on the men's side despite being an ATP 250.

This is solely due to not only the return of Djokovic but also Nick Kyrgios. Like him or loathe him, the Aussie is box office. He is a tennis showman for this generation and will be top billing at this tournament and also the Australian Open as well as even Wimbledon and other such tournaments whether people like him or not.

He has had a rough ride. From the ecstacy of reaching the Wimbledon final and nearly achieving his undoubted ceiling to being injured and off the court for nearly 18 months by the time he returns this next week.

From Wimbledon final to the sidelines, Kyrgios finally returns next week.

He has adapted more to punditry and commentary both for ESPN and also on X than he has been on court over the last few months and albeit he has said himself he doesn't know how long the journey will last, he wants to make it count.

But also it is a bit of a mystery. Kyrgios returned abruptly after his original injury travails to try and master his beloved grass again and face Yibing Wu in Stuttgart in a display that was very much 'I am not ready' personified.

He has not massively tried to abruptly return since likely knowing that if he tried it again, it would likely gleam a same result. So for those fans of Kyrgios, it is very much he is only returning now when the time is right.

He has got some matches in over recent weeks. He has played in the World Tennis League albeit it is not a massive barometer of where form is. Simona Halep played it and is now out of the Australian Open due to injury again so while it is fun, it doesn't provide much of a gauge.

He faces perhaps one of the best ties of the opening round and one that fans were begging for on social media and got. He takes on GIovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Both known for incredible serving ability, the Frenchman has been serving utter bombs down the court as aces in the past year and the idea of both just teeing off is both boring to some and a thrill to others. EIther way it will be must watch.

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Then he could face fellow showman Frances Tiafoe. But what about the others involved?

Grigor Dimitrov is defending champion having sealed the title 12 months ago. Similar to this time, the chatter was about another big name in Rafael Nadal. He made his return to the sport during this tournament in 2024 and Dimitrov was the one who prevailed among the noise.

He returns and could face David Goffin or Aleksandar Vukic when he gets past a qualifier. Perhaps one of the most intriguing sections is his. He could face Jordan Thompson or Matteo Berrettini who play in another superb first round. Or it could be Alex Michelsen or Christopher O'Connell.

While just above is third seed Holger Rune. He will aim to finally kickstart his rise again when he faces JIri Lehecka in a tough assignment. Other seeds include Alejandro Tabilo, Sebastian Korda and as mentioned Alexei Popyrin.

An ATP 250 tournament that perhaps doesn't have the feel of one. While it does have a lot of names in the mid pack, it is full of intrigue and given it is the first week of the season will likely provide a lot of shocks. While the break was very much blink and you miss it, tennis is officially back over the next week and while it has begun in United Cup, the singles action is set to start in Brisbane.

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