Brisbane: Aleksandar Kovacevic sinks Nick Kyrgios in winning debut with coach David Witt

On Sunday, Nick Kyrgios enjoyed a winning return to the Brisbane International by partnering good friend Thansai Kokkinakis to a doubles victory over Matthew Ebden and Rajeev Ram.

Two days later, he wasn’t able to replicate that success in his first singles match on tour since the 2025 Miami Open.

His opponent, Aleksandar Kovacevic, came armed with a new addition to his team in coach David Witt. The partnership officially kicked off in style when the 27-year-old closed out a 6-3, 6-4 victory inside Pat Rafter Arena.

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Kovacevic was virtually untouchable when his first serve found the box, winning 25 of 26 points. He successfully converted a break in each set, both instances coming via an unforced error off the Australian’s racquet.

“Obviously a tough one to approach. You don’t always know what you’re going to get with Nick, whether he’s healthy or he’s not,” Kovacevic said during his on-court interview. “Tough to scout him recently, because he hasn’t been on tour for a while playing serious matches. I just knew I had to be pretty locked in.

“I do like playing in big stadiums like this.”

Kovacevic comes in ranked a career-high No. 58 this week. For a quarterfinal berth, he gets the winner of a left-handed showdown between seventh seed Cameron Norrie and Ugo Humbert.

Since ending his 2022 season in Tokyo, tour appearances have been few and far between for Kyrgios due to persistent knee and wrist injuries. After entering just one tournament across the next two years, the former Wimbledon finalist managed to contest four events in 2025. He wrapped the year by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in "The Battle of the Sexes" exhibition.

“I don't really know what my plan is this year. I don't know what my future, like, holds either,” Kyrgios said following his opening doubles win here. “I'm literally taking it day by day. Just to be a part of these events is special.”

Elsewhere at the ATP 250 stop, three of the top five seeds were dealt losing 2026 debuts.

Brandon Nakashima ousted No. 2 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, blasting 15 aces in a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory. Qualifier Quentin Halys awaits next after knocking off Alexei Popyrin, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard made a strong initial statement as he looks to bounce back from a 19-26 season. The 22-year-old rallied from 5-2 down in his final-set tiebreaker with fourth seed Tommy Paul to advance, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (6).

Raphael Collignon did not face a break point in his 6-4, 6-2 dismissal of fifth-seeded Denis Shapovalov.