Grigor Dimitrov fit and fired again in Brisbane, Cameron Norrie saves 3 MPs | ATP tour | Tennis

Match report

Dimitrov fits and fires again in Brisbane, Norrie saves 3 MPs

Nakashima and Mpetshi Perricard are moving forward
January 6, 2026

Grigor Dimitrov showed few signs of rust on Tuesday at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ, where he emerged victorious in just his second match since suffering a chest injury against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July.

The Bulgarian eased past Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane, where he is a two-time champion.

Three months after his Wimbledon injury, Dimitrov returned to the Tour at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, scoring a victory against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in late October. However, his return was short-lived, with the 34-year-old withdrawing ahead of his second round match.

“It’s so good to see you,” Dimitrov said. “It’s always so special for me to start the year here. I’m just grateful. These months have been very difficult in terms of preparation and mentality. My body has had to go through so much, but to be able to compete again today is already a success and winning is of course just an extra bonus at this point. I feel good, I felt good on the track, so let’s see how it goes.”

Dimitrov will be hoping he can stay fit and enjoy a productive start to the 2026 season. The former world number 3 was close to his best during the 68-minute match against Carreno Busta and will next meet Raphael Collignon.

However, there was no winning return for Nick Kyrgios, with the Australian losing to Aleksandar Kovacevic. The American secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 30-year-old to book his place in the second round in Brisbane.

Kyrgios competed in a tour-level singles match for the first time since his appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami last March. However, he had few answers against Kovacevic, who reached the ATP Tour finals in Montpellier and Los Cabos in 2025.

Kovacevic will next meet seventh seed Cameron Norrie. The British left-hander secured a hard-fought 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 comeback win against Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Norrie saved three match points from a 3/6 deficit in the second set tiebreak and eventually advanced after two hours and 36 minutes. Norrie is tied at 2-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Humbert.

Big-serving Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard upset fourth seed Tommy Paul on the American’s return to the Tour, triumphing 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-6(6). Mpetshi Perricard, who advanced to the semi-finals in Brisbane last season, hit 24 aces on his way to victory, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Paul was playing for the first time since losing in the third round at the US Open in August. The American suffered a left foot injury in the last months of 2025.

Brandon Nakashima was also a winner in Brisbane on Tuesday, beating second seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(4), 6-4. Collignon also defeated a seed, moving past fifth seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-2. In a battle between two Australians, Rinky Hijikata dispatched Adam Walton 6-3, 6-2.