ATP Brisbane Day 3 Predictions Including Nick Kyrgios vs Aleksandar Kovacevic

Former champion Nick Kyrgios will play his first ATP singles match in nine months in Brisbane. The 30-year-old Australian picked up a win in doubles but will need a solo effort to register his first singles victory in Brisbane since 2019. Who will reach the second round?

ATP Brisbane Day 3 Predictions

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs Tommy Paul

Head-to-head: first meeting

Mpetshi Perricard delivered his best showing on Australian soil in this tournament 12 months ago. He defeated Nick Kyrgios in an incredible first-round match and went on to make the semifinals. But the Frenchman could not build on that result on hard courts for the remainder of the season. His unsuccessful title defense in Basel cost him a top 50 spot and began the year ranked 58th. Tommy Paul, by comparison, started last year on a positive note, reaching the semifinals in Adelaide and the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. However, his season was prematurely halted by an injury after the US Open. Paul also suffered a ranking drop and exited the Top 10 (currently down in 20th). Still, the American is the better all-court player, a smart returner, and can read patterns better than most to frustrate the Frenchman.
Prediction: Paul in 3

Brandon Nakashima vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Head-to-head: Davidovich Fokina 2-0 Nakashima

2025 can be termed a bittersweet year for Davidovich Fokina. Some of the highlights include ascending to a new career-high ranking of World No. 14, and he was one of nine players who tied the knot. But there were some heartbreaks on the court. The Spaniard squandered multiple match points to win his first title in two ATP finals. On the bright side, he can put all that behind him in a new season against a player he’s never lost to in two meetings. His creativity and intensity, even in short bursts, will be enough to secure victory.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3

Nick Kyrgios vs Aleksandar Kovacevic

Head-to-head: first meeting

Nick Kyrgios is making just his fourth main draw appearance in Brisbane after he was granted a wild card into the tournament.  He won the event on his main draw debut in 2018, but he hasn’t played remotely close to a full schedule at the Tour-level since 2022. In that time, Kovacevic established himself as a Top 100 player and was a Tour regular for most of 2025, where he reached two ATP finals. Kyrgios specializes in playing short points, and even after a long layoff, he will be expected to serve bigger and return more aggressively, and that could tip the scales in his favor to secure an emotional win in his comeback.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2