Nick Kyrgios says ‘I need a miracle’ to play Australian Open after brutal reality check following long layoff

Nick Kyrgios believes he ‘needs a miracle’ to challenge for a grand slam title after an injury comeback loss that inspired confidence but also offered the Australian a sobering reality check.

The Australian could only shrug as big rising star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard left him with a ‘throbbing’ wrist and crashed his comeback party in the first round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday.

The Australian was frustrated but showed fighting spirit, touch and fitness in a 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) defeat that lasted almost two and a half hours and saw no service breaks.

The 21-year-old French talent came from outside the world’s top 200 and finished 31st in the world this year. His massive weapon on both the first and second serves is perhaps the most devastating in the sport.

Kyrgios, playing only his second tour-level singles match in two-and-a-half years after a troublesome wrist injury, felt the full brunt of it after winning the doubles match with Novak Djokovic on Monday night.

Mpetshi Perricard served 36 aces to Kyrgios’ 15, regularly hitting 220km/h with ease and backing himself with huge second serves to compound the pain mentally and physically as just four points separated the duo.

Perricard rose from outside the world’s top 200 to rank 31st in the world this year

“I felt like I’d been hit by a bus after doubles,” he said after admitting his wrist was “throbbing like a punch.”

“For my wrist, it’s all new territory…I went from practicing with unranked people to having the largest server…in the world and, ‘let’s see how you do.’

‘It’s going to be a tough day for my wrist tomorrow.

‘I was really looking forward to the Aus Open and after today… reality became fair.

“It (winning one) is perhaps one of the hardest things to do in any sport.

‘I almost need a miracle and the stars need to align so that my wrist can definitely hold up in a grand slam.

“But I’m so happy to be part of the Australian summer again.

“I don’t take it for granted; to go out there again and play such a top player… smiling to myself, knowing I’m right in the thick of the action.

The Aussie Firebrand is worried about keeping his pulse going for the Australian Open

“We didn’t expect to play at such a high level here.”

Despite his concerns, the 29-year-old said he would ‘definitely’ return on Wednesday to play top doubles players Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus alongside Novak Djokovic, who defeated Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 later on Tuesday evening.

Earlier, Alexei Popyrin’s preparations for the Australian Open hit a snag after he was humbled by Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the first round.

The world number 24 Australian was outplayed 6-3 6-2 on Tuesday, with Arnaldi moving to 3-1 in their head-to-head careers.

Popyrin will be seeded for the first time at next month’s Australian Open after a 2024 highlighted by his Masters 1000 win in Montreal and the upset of Novak Djokovic to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

He has a game that Australian tennis great John Newcombe believes could take him into the top 10 in the world next year.

But the Italian world number 37, two years younger than Popyrin at 23, demonstrated how competitive the field was in a 68-minute procession.

Australian world number 93 Adam Walton then pushed fifth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe, who saved set points in the first set before turning the tables in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory.

Day two started with the withdrawal of fifth seed and world number 22 Sebastian Korda (lower back), the American replaced in the main draw by Dusan Lajovic, who went on to defeat Arthur Cazaux.

Aleksandar Vukic and Jordan Thompson have already secured an Australian presence in the second round after impressive wins in Brisbane.