Grigor Dimitrov is fit and firing again in Brisbane, Cameron Norrie saves 3 MPs | ATP Tour
Matching Report
Dimitrov equalizes and fires back in Brisbane, Norrie saves 3 MPs
Nakashima, Mpeshi Perricard advance
January 06, 2026
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Grigor Dimitrov is a two-time champion in Brisbane.
Written by Sam Jacot
Grigor Dimitrov showed some rust on Tuesday at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ, where he claimed victory in his second match since suffering a chest injury against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
The Bulgarian eased past Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the ATP 250 event in Brisbane, where he is a two-time champion.
Three months after his injury at Wimbledon, Dimitrov returned to the Tour at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, earning a win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in late October. However, his comeback was short-lived, as the 34-year-old withdrew before his second round match.
“It’s great to see you guys,” Dimitrov said. “Starting the year here is always special for me. I’m just grateful. These months were very difficult in terms of preparation, mentally. My body had a lot to go through, but to be able to compete again today, it’s a success and of course the win is an added bonus right now. I feel good, I felt good on the field, so let’s see how we go.”
Dimitrov will be hoping he can stay fit and enjoy a good start to the 2026 season. The former World No. 3 was close to best throughout the 68-minute match against Carreno Busta and will meet Raphael Collignon next.
There was no winning comeback for Nick Kyrgios, however, as the Australian lost to Aleksandar Kovacevic. The American claimed a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 30-year-old to book a place in the second round in Brisbane.
Kyrgios was competing in a tour-level tournament for the first time since playing at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami last March. However, he had few answers against Kovacevic, who reached the finals of the ATP Tour in Montpellier and Los Cabos in 2025.
Kovacevic will next face seventh seed Cameron Norrie. The British lefty won a hard-fought 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5 comeback victory over Ugo Humbert of France. Norrie saved three points at 3/6 after the second break, finally progressing after two hours and 36 minutes. Norrie is 2-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Humbert.
Frenchman Perricard upset fourth seed Tommy Paul in the American’s return to the Tour, winning 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (6). Coach Perricard, who reached the semifinals in Brisbane last season, hit 24 aces en route 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 from a left foot injury in the closing months of 2025.
Brandon Nakashima won again on Tuesday in Brisbane, defeating second seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(4), 6-4. Collignon once again beat the seeds, beating fifth seed Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-2. In the battle between two Australians, Rinky Hijikata defeated Adam Walton 6-3, 6-2.
