Novak Djokovic makes 16-year change in bid to bring down Margaret Court at Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is set to play the Brisbane International for the first time in 16 years – a massive change that he hopes will end his grand slam drought. Djokovic endured a frustrating year in 2024, winning a gold medal at the Olympics but failing to capture a single ATP title or grand slam.

It marked the first year since 2017 (when he was injured) in which he failed to win a major, but Djokovic is hoping to bounce back at the Australian Open in January. The 24-time grand slam champion can overtake Margaret Court for most majors in history with a 25th, and in 2025 he’s doing things a little differently.

While Djokovic normally plays Kooyong or exhibition matches to prepare for the Melbourne Park grand slam, he’ll be in action at the Brisbane International at the end of December. It will mark the first time since 2009 that the Serbian star plays the ATP event, and he’ll join a star-studded line-up.

Nick Kyrgios will make his return in Brisbane alongside defending champion Grigor Dimitrov, as well as Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, Sebastian Korda, Gael Monfils, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson. The ATP event runs from December 29 until January 5, with the Australian Open to begin on January 12.

“He had an interrupted second half of the year. Didn’t play the world tour finals and he’s just looking at what’s his best pathway and he saw that as being Brisbane,” tournament director Cameron Pearson said about Djokovic’s decision on Wednesday. “We had Roger (Federer), then Rafa (Nadal), now Novak again. We’ve been blessed here in Brisbane to have the three GOATs and you could argue Novak is the GOAT on his own.”