Brisbane, Dec 31, 2024 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. The 37-year-old did not face a single break point, underscoring his dominance. “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.
The victory allowed Djokovic to wrap up his evening early, leaving time for New Year’s Eve celebrations with his family. Speaking after the match, Djokovic shared his plans: �.