The Djokovic-Kyrgios debut was a delight at the Brisbane International

Nobody was really sure what to expect at Pat Rafter Arena on Monday night.

Not the Serbian fans, who waved their flags to honour Novak Djokovic, the greatest of all time and a national hero.

Neither the Aussies, desperate to see Nick Kyrgios once more, for his entertainment value as much as his tennis ability.

Not even the players knew what they were going to get.

The last time these two shared a court in the public eye was in a pantomime exhibition prior to the Australian Open last year.

Not long before that, it was the regal surrounds of the 2022 Wimbledon final — the high theatre, the royal opera of tennis events.

So what was this?

Nobody knew what to expect from this pairing, not even the players themselves. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

"I don't know how it's going to be. We might get absolutely snipped," Kyrgios said on Saturday.

"We've never played doubles before. Everybody thinks we're going to mesh [but we're] two complete different personalities.

"See how it goes."

Nick and Novak? Novak and Nick? Kyrgios and the Djoker? Kyrgios the Djoker? The Djoker and the Chief?

We'll work on the nickname.

Because this was, in truth, a little bit of everything.

And following their 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-8 success against two very accomplished players in Alexander Erler and Andres Mies, we're going to see them again.

First up, this was a tennis match featuring three grand slam champions with a combined 27 titles between them.

Sure, 24 of them — all singles — belonged to Djokovic.

We might have to think of a better nickname. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

But Kyrgios and Mies (two) both have grand slam doubles titles under their belts. Make no mistake, this was an intensely high quality quartet.

And even having been out the game for so long, late-career Kyrgios has skills that perfectly translate to doubles.

His flamboyance and flare, his booming serve — which hit 212 kph in the opening service game — and that uniquely laconic flourish makes him an ideal doubles player.

While Djokovic's attributes are less obviously synchronised to the two-person game — a master soloist doesn't need company on the rostrum of greatness — the 24-time grand slam winner's ground game is arguably the best that's ever been.

His ability to drill balls deeper and deeper until his opponent can do nothing other than make a mistake earned him several points.

But opposites attract. Teamwork is about becoming greater than the sum of its parts, be it physical or psychological.

And as this partnership developed over 107 magical minutes, the on court relationship developed in every way to a thrillingly entertaining victory.

Both men pointed in each other's direction in perfect synchrony to celebrate points, and slapped hands liberally.

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios made a great pair. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

Kyrgios deferred to Djokovic at the toss. And then laughed when he got it wrong.

Two more contrasting players you could not imagine combining to create such brilliance.

Djokovic was a picture of concentration almost throughout, shadow-playing the shot he wanted to hit, visualising how he envisaged the next ball to come his way would depart his racquet in dead time between points.

Kyrgios, with all his laconic nonchalance, sauntered out next to him, backward-turned cap, baggy singlet over a tight grey T-shirt.

"We love you Nick," called someone in the crowd.

"We missed you," they could have added.

Because who else can entertain like this? Who else engenders such a ridiculous raucousness in their support?

Who else, but Nick?

Nick Kyrgios is back playing tennis, and he looks like he loved it. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

Kyrgios's serve had dropped 30 kph in pace by the ninth game — but lost none of its potency as he served the game out to love, with three aces and a serve volley that highlighted astonishing dexterity in his newly repaired wrist.

Then came the 10th game, the mightiest crescendo of all.

The crowd needed no excuse to get involved, the chair umpire frequently telling the more raucous elements to settle.

But when Djokovic hit a sublime backhand winner around the net in the 10th game of the first set, the crowd was brought into the contest in extraordinary fashion.

The touch paper had been lit.

Novak clearly loved it, smiling as the crowd roared and Kyrgios advanced on him with a Cheshire smile, pointing his fingers at his new teammate in a fit of unbridled joy.

Djokovic embraced that feeling, raising his arms to conduct an even greater roar from the crowd.

Soon after, Kyrgios got into the act with a winner that inspired just as visceral a reaction, with the Australian now picking the crowd up.

The break of serve — and the first set — simply extended the party atmosphere.

The crowd had come for a show. And they were getting it.

Before the match Kyrgios said he was hoping Djokovic would have fun.

The smile on his face after the deftest of volleys at the net from Mies, followed by a wiggle of his racquet suggested that he most certainly was.

Kyrgios emanated that joy.

Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic quickly developed a mutually supportive relationship on court. (AAP Image: Darren England)

His relationship with tennis may be strained, but anyone who has been watching him, relaxed and joking through practice earlier in the week cannot fail to see that there is a deep love for the sport.

He wants to bring the joy — and did in increasingly brilliant ways.

On his serve in the seventh game of the second set, as part of a phenomenal rally, he hit a tweener lob through the legs on the run that resulted in winning the point.

Kyrgios, still on the move, celebrated into the camera court side, hunched over with his mouth open as Djokovic chased after him, fully into the action.

The crowd stood, an ovation for a genius displaying skills befitting the master alongside him.

"I was looking around at all the fans," Kyrgios said.

"This injury has been brutal for me so I wasn’t taking any of this for granted. I don't know how many Aussie summers I have left."

There was still time for more.

When Kyrgios volleyed the ball into Erler at the net from point blank range, there was initial concern before smiles emerged.

When Erler hit a thunderous return ace off the very next Djokovic serve, everyone joined the theatrics. The Austrian raised his arms to rev up the crowd as Djokovic dropped his racquet in exaggerated shock.

If the essence of sport is to have fun, these two had it nailed on Monday night. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

Theatrics were being requested by now.

"Another tweener!" demanded one punter. "Serve underarm!" called another, the lines between theatre and farce beginning to blend to a crowd drunk on the entertainment they were witnessing.

ABC Sport Daily podcast ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that's making headlines.

"Everyone in here is wanting me to hit underarm. I'm trying to be professional," Kyrgios said to laughs at the post-match interview.

"The highlight of this interview so far," Djokovic countered.

"His sentence, 'I'm trying to be professional.' I love it. I love it."

Didn't we all.

So what was it we were watching?

High theatre or panto? Exhibition or serious competition?

Frankly, given how much everyone was entertained, did it even matter?

Click here to read article