Jordan Thompson goals to construct on career-best kind, Nick Kyrgios returns to the court docket and Rinky Hijikata faces Novak Djokovic as 10 Aussies launch the brand new season in Brisbane.
Brisbane, Australia , 28 December 2024 | Vivienne Christie
Jordan Thompson might be excused some wry smiles as he participated within the Brisbane Worldwide 2025 draw ceremony on Saturday.
Having kick-started a career-best season with a semifinal exhibiting on the 2024 event, the Sydneysider’s marketing campaign will start in 2025 towards in-form Italian Matteo Berrettini.
“Yeah it’s a troublesome one. He’s been taking part in nice tennis. He broke our hearts at Davis Cup towards Thanasi (Kokkinakis). He’s acquired a giant recreation,” Thompson famous of Berrettini, who claimed three profession titles and featured in a second straight Davis Cup victory for Italy in his comeback from an injury-delayed begin to the 2024 season.
“[But] once you play tennis, it’s a must to beat whoever is in entrance of you to win the event anyway.”
Thompson brings confidence from a sequence of breakthroughs in 2024. Alongside a primary ATP singles title in Los Cabos, he progressed to a fourth singles remaining in Atlanta, guaranteeing he arrives in Brisbane at a career-high No.26 rating.
“For me it’s only a quantity but it surely’s fairly particular I assume,” stated Thompson. “Hopefully being [in the] prime 30 is just not the top outcome.”
As he targets additional highs, there’s confidence in figuring out that competing on dwelling soil can convey out Thompson’s finest.
The Sydneysider has particularly comfortable recollections from Pat Rafter Area, the place he shocked Rafael Nadal to succeed in the Brisbane semifinals in 2024.
“The Aussie summer season is the perfect time for Australians. I really feel so comfy right here,” stated the 30-year-old.
“Nice recollections on this court docket, whether or not or not it’s Brisbane Worldwide or Davis Cup. I really used to coach right here perhaps 10 years in the past, so I’m no stranger to this venue.”
> VIEW: Brisbane Worldwide 2025 males’s singles draw
Fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios can be no stranger to Pat Rafter Area, having lifted the Brisbane trophy in 2018. Restricted to only one event up to now two season as he navigated critical knee and wrist accidents, Kyrgios will face quickly enhancing Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his long-awaited return to the court docket at Brisbane Worldwide 2025.
John Millman, who wound up his skilled profession at Australian Open 2024, expects an exciting contest.
“I feel everybody is worked up to see Nick again in motion,” Millman stated. “He’s up towards the younger Frenchman Giovanni Perricard who had his breakthrough in Basel the place he received the five hundred on the finish of the yr.
“They have been completely different circumstances within the indoor (to Brisbane) however in the event you haven’t seen Giovanni play he has an absolute rocket of a serve. We all know Nick does however Perricard does additionally. That’s going to be a function match.”
There may also be many eyes on Rinky Hijikata because the Australian meets Novak Djokovic in a frightening first spherical.
“It’ll be a implausible expertise for Rinky,” stated Thompson. “I don’t suppose he’s performed Novak earlier than and to 100 per cent play him on Pat Rafter Area the primary match of the yr shall be one thing that he’ll bear in mind ceaselessly.”
5 homegrown hopefuls, 5 blockbuster first spherical match-ups introduced by @EvieNetworks!
All of it kicks off tomorrow at #BrisbaneTennis! pic.twitter.com/7gLhuWCjtt
— Brisbane Worldwide (@BrisbaneTennis) December 28, 2024
Thompson, Kyrgios and Hijikata are amongst seven Australians competing within the 32-player males’s discipline.
Alexei Popyrin, who achieved a peak world No.24 rating in his career-best season, faces Thirty seventh-ranked Italian Matteo Arnaldi whereas Chris O’Connell meets big-serving American Alex Michelsen.
Adam Walton and Aleksandar Vukic, each wildcard entrants, will meet Frances Tiafoe and David Goffin respectively.
There are additionally thrilling alternatives for the Australians contesting the WTA 500 event.
> View: Brisbane Worldwide ladies’s singles draw
Wildcard entrant Maya Joint performs a qualifier, as does Queenslander Kimberly Birrell earlier than a possible assembly with No.2 seed Emma Navarro within the second spherical.
The quickly enhancing Talia Gibson faces world No.44 Czech Marie Bouzkova.
Foremost-draw motion begins tomorrow on the Queensland Tennis Centre.
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