Tennis star Nick Kyrgios, armed with his formidable serve, is poised to make a strong return at the Australian Open, according to his doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis. Kyrgios, 29, who has faced a series of wrist and knee injuries, will first compete at the Brisbane International starting December 29th, before heading to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, which kicks off on January 12th. The former world No. 13 is utilizing a protected ranking for his first appearance at the Open since withdrawing on the eve of his first-round match in 2023.

"It's going to be fantastic for tennis, not just for Australian fans but for fans worldwide," Kokkinakis commented. "He's a unique player with a distinct energy, and he's incredibly talented. I think people will be thrilled to have him back on the court." Kokkinakis also noted that Kyrgios has been eager to return but wanted to ensure he was fully prepared before making his comeback. "Hopefully, he can stay injury-free," Kokkinakis added.

When asked if Kyrgios could hit the ground running, Kokkinakis replied, "Absolutely." He continued, "With that serve, he doesn't even need to play at his best to have a chance. If his body is in good shape, which I'm confident it will be, he's always a formidable opponent."

Both players might need to prioritize singles matches over doubles, despite their memorable doubles victory at the 2022 Open. "Doubles is tricky because everyone loved it last time, and we had a blast, but it's not our main focus," Kokkinakis said. "We feel we owe it to the fans to have some fun, but singles is our priority. It's a tricky situation, especially after a tough five-setter, but we'll see how it goes."

Kokkinakis is no stranger to fielding questions about his high-profile friend. "I remember in Turin, he arrived late, and all I heard was, 'Where is Nick?'" he said with a smile. The world No. 77, who is 28, aims to stay healthy, reach the third round of the Open for the first time, and climb up the rankings. "My tennis level is as good as it's ever been," Kokkinakis stated. "I'm using this as a springboard for the upcoming year. I feel I'm close to the top players and just need to keep working hard. Top 50 is my next goal, but I believe I can go even further."

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