Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis provided trademark entertainment but ultimately suffered defeat in a topsy-turvy doubles encounter at the Brisbane International. The Australian duo, affectionately known as the 'Special Ks', were beaten 6-0, 1-6, [10-6] by the sixth-seeded French pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in a round-of-16 thriller on Wednesday.
A Rollercoaster Battle on Pat Rafter Arena
The match began in disastrous fashion for the home favourites. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were handed a first-set 'bagel', losing it 6-0 in just 22 minutes. A series of unforced errors and a moment of misfortune – where Kokkinakis fell over and the ball was hit directly at him – contributed to the swift opening set for the French team.
Facing an embarrassing exit, the Australians rallied spectacularly. At 0-5 down in the first set, Kyrgios took on the role of motivator, urging his partner to play on instinct. The pep talk worked wonders. Kokkinakis held serve to love to open the second set, sparking a remarkable turnaround. The pair raced through the second set 6-1, thrilling the Pat Rafter Arena crowd. Kyrgios even acted as a part-time masseur, tending to Kokkinakis's sore neck, and celebrated points with a mini dance.
The Deciding Tiebreak and Wild Card Conundrum
The momentum shifted once more in the first-to-10-point match tiebreak. The French duo stormed to a 5-0 lead, a deficit from which the Australians could not fully recover. Despite a valiant fightback to 6-8, Doumbia and Reboul held their nerve to secure the final two points and the match.
Despite the loss, the performance and Kyrgios's leadership have intensified the debate around his Australian Open prospects. The defeat is unlikely to harm his hopes of receiving one of the three remaining singles wildcards for the season's first Grand Slam. His ability to compete and inspire, after a long period sidelined by injury, was a positive sign for selectors.
Rebuilding After Injury and French Praise
The match marked only the second outing for the popular pair since their fairytale Australian Open doubles triumph in 2022, a victory that made them the toast of Melbourne. Injuries have plagued both players since. They arrived in Brisbane having already scored an impressive first-round win over Grand Slam champions Matt Ebden and Rajeev Ram.
In a gracious post-match gesture, Fabien Reboul acknowledged their challenging journey. "A little word for Kokkinakis and Kyrgios – they’ve had a lot of injuries, so very happy to see them in the tournament again, and I hope we will have many other battles," the Frenchman said.
While their Brisbane campaign is over, the comeback of the Special Ks has provided a compelling subplot to the Australian tennis summer, leaving fans and officials alike pondering what might come next for Nick Kyrgios.
