Novak Djokovic a CONFIRMED starter for Brisbane International – as fallen star Bernard Tomic eyes off 2025 Australian Open opportunity
- Serbian will fine-tune his game in Brisbane
- Ahead of Australian Open from January 12
- Chasing a record 25th grand slam title
Novak Djokovic has signed up to play the Brisbane International which starts later this month as the superstar Serbian chases a record 25th grand slam title.
Djokovic joins a hot Brisbane field featuring Nick Kyrgios, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, Sebastian Korda, Gael Monfils, plus local hopes Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson.
The ATP event runs from December 29 until January 5, with the Australian Open beginning on January 12.
Djokovic is coming off a frustrating season, with 2024 marking the first year since 2017 in which he failed to win one of the four majors.
The 37-year-old, now ranked seventh in the world, is one trophy away from surpassing Margaret Court’s joint-record of 24 grand slam singles crowns.
Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in Paris to win his first Olympic gold medal earlier this year, joining Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams as only the fifth tennis player to complete the fabled ‘golden slam.’
Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic is currently training on the Gold Coast as he prepares to compete for an Australian Open main draw spot for the first time in three years.
The former world No.17’s ranking plummeted as low as 825 in 2022, but at 32 he has battled back to No.214.
Novak Djokovic has signed up to play the Brisbane International which starts later this month as the superstar Serbian seeks a record 25th career grand slam title
Bernard Tomic is pushing hard for an Australian Open main draw spot for the first time in three years after his ranking plummeted as low as 825 in the world in 2022
After briefly breaking into the top 200 in October, Tomic is now in a position to contest Australian Open qualifying next month.
Remarkably, Tomic competed in low-level events in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Turkey, Brazil, Thailand, India, Colombia, Spain, United States and Canada in a bid to rebuild his ranking.
Retired Australian Davis Cup representative John Millman was full of praise for Tomic grafting all over the world.
‘I love it. What an effort for Bernie to get back,” Millman told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘To go out there and go through the Futures and Challengers the way he has is huge. These are really unglamorous tournaments.
‘I think at times, he’s had to do it pretty tough – and he’s managed to come out the other side.’
In Melbourne, crowd favourite Kyrgios is also poised to return to the court following two injury-riddled years.
It is understood the 29-year-old will use his ATP protected ranking of 21 at Melbourne Park instead of receiving a wildcard.
