Djokovic beats Hijikata to storm into second round in Brisbane

Brisbane: Novak Djokovic marked his return to singles action with a dominant win at the Brisbane International, dispatching Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 6-3, 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena.

Playing his first ATP singles match since October, the Serbian showcased his trademark precision and resilience kicking off his 2025 singles season in impressive fashion. A day after partnering with Nick Kyrgios for a doubles win, Djokovic delivered a clinical performance in his singles opener. Over the course of 75 minutes, he overwhelmed Hijikata with his impeccable baseline play and unerring serve, winning 81% of points behind his first serve.

“I always expect myself to do well on the court. Obviously, a win is a win,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “To start off the new season with a win is very important. I think Hijikata deserves a great round of applause for his performance tonight, he was really good. He made me work, definitely, for the win tonight.” Hijikata, playing in front of a supportive home crowd, showed flashes of promise but struggled to penetrate Djokovic’s near-flawless defense. The Serbian broke the Australian’s serve twice in each set, staying comfortably in control throughout.

Addressing the Brisbane crowd, Djokovic added a heartfelt message:

“Happy New Year in advance to everyone. It’s a special evening. Last year I played a match at the United Cup in Perth just before midnight, and again here in Brisbane, so it’s kind of a tradition now happening each year. Thanks for choosing to come and spend New Year’s Eve on the court here with us; we appreciate it.”

Djokovic’s next challenge in Brisbane is a familiar foe - Gael Monfils, against whom he holds a commanding 19-0 head-to-head record. A win against the Frenchman would not only advance Djokovic further in the tournament but also edge him closer to a historic milestone. The Serbian is aiming to become just the third player in history to win 100 ATP tour-level titles, joining the elite company of Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

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