Nick Kyrgios responds to Aus Open withdrawal fears as Kim Birrell and Maya Joint stun tennis world

Kyrgios had previously suggested his participation at the Australian Open was in doubt.

Nick Kyrgios allayed fears that he might not be able to play the Australian Open on Wednesday, producing a polished display alongside Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International. And Kim Birrell and Maya Joint continue to show the future is bright for Australian women's tennis.

Kyrgios admitted earlier this week he'd "need a miracle" to perform to the best of his ability at the Australian Open due to his surgically-repaired wrist. He took such a battering from big-serving French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the singles that he suggested his participation at the Australian Open later this month was in doubt.

Nick Kyrgios, Kim Birrell and Maya Joint.
Nick Kyrgios is on the right track to playing the Australian Open, while Kim Birrell and Maya Joint stunned at the Brisbane International. Image: Getty

But aside from occasionally grabbing at his right bicep, the 29-year-old looked comfortable as he hit serves upwards of 200km/h and again showed touch, agility and reflexes in his doubles match alongside Djokovic on Wednesday. Djokovic and Kyrgios lost 6-2 3-6 10-8 to top seeds and new partnership Michael Venus and Nikola Mektic, but Kyrgios showed he'll be right for the Melbourne Park grand slam.

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios in the second round of the doubles at the Brisbane International.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios lost in the second round of the doubles. (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)

"I've got six holes in my hand and one in my arm (from surgery) - not one tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back and tried to play again," Kyrgios said on Tuesday night. "It's all really an experimental (process) ... no real protocol of how it's going to be or how it's going to pull up.

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"It's very sore at the moment. I used to abuse being youthful in this sport and not doing any cool down or anything like that, so I guess it's biting me in the arse right now."

In the women's singles, Birrell and Joint both produced stunning performances - albeit for different results. Birrell shed tears of joy on Wednesday after beating World No.8 Emma Navarro on Pat Rafter Arena - five years after she worked on the media team at the event due to injury.

Birrell beat Daria Kasatkina at her home event in 2019 to notch a maiden top-10 scalp, but an elbow injury then put her career on ice for almost three years. The 26-year-old wildcard was courageous and powerful in a fluctuating affair against the US Open semi-finalist, winning 7-5 7-5.

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The World No.113 then backed it up on Thursday with another sparkling display against 35th-ranked Anastasia Potapova, winning 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. It means Birrell is through to the first WTA 500 quarter-final of her career and will move into the top 100 when the rankings are next updated - becoming Australia's highest-ranked female player.

Kim Birrell.
Kim Birrell celebrates after beating Emma Navarro at the Brisbane International. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

"It's pretty crazy," Birrell said on Wednesday. "Working for the tournament instead of playing in the tournament ... I realised how big of a sport tennis is, and it was really cool to be on the other side and experience all of that.

"It gave me the chance to reflect and realise that I did really want to keep playing, and then obviously I didn't expect to be out, injured for so long. That (2020) was the beginning of my injury; I had almost two more years of rehab ahead of me. There were periods where I didn't know if I was going to get back on court, let alone at the level I played today."

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And Aussie 18-year-old Maya Joint also caused a huge shock when she pushed former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka to the brink of defeat. Ranked 116th in the world, the teenager threatened to upstage Birrell on Wednesday night when she took the first set off Azarenka in a breaker. The veteran from Belarus quickly levelled the match, winning 20 of 22 points at one stage before Joint regained her feet in the third set.

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The 18-year-old broke early in the decider, but Azarenka showed her experience to break straight back and escape into the fourth round with a 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 6-4 victory. Nevertheless, the performance of Joint - as well as Birrell - stunned tennis fans and commentators.

with AAP