Nick Kyrgios said he is unsure whether he will be fit enough to compete at the Australian Open after his first singles match in 18 months left him in "throbbing" pain.

After making his competitive comeback in the Brisbane doubles alongside Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios returned to the singles court on Tuesday against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

However, the Australian was pipped by his opponent in a three-set epic, losing 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) in an encounter that lasted over two and a half hours. 

Mpetshi Perricard hit 36 aces throughout the match, including a whopping 15 in the final set, the same amount Kyrgios managed overall.

However, after undergoing reconstructive wrist surgery 15 months ago, the 29-year-old threw his participation at Melbourne Park next month into doubt. 

"After today, I'm super excited for the Australian Open. If I'm able to play, I'm able to play. But the reality kind of set in for me," said Kyrgios.

"That's a best-of-three match with my wrist. If I'm able to [play], not only is a grand slam mentally really draining, it's physically a grind.

"I think I almost need a miracle, and I need, like, the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a grand slam for sure."

Having also contested a first-round doubles match on Monday in Brisbane, Kyrgios acknowledged feeling soreness in his wrist after back-to-back match days.

Yet he is feeling good about returning to court on Wednesday alongside Djokovic for the pair’s second-round doubles match against top seeds Nikola Mektic and Michael Venus.

"I felt like I had been hit by a bus yesterday after doubles, to be honest. I was on the treatment table for an hour and a half before bed," revealed Kyrgios.

"But we know that's how it's going to be. Even doubles, you just can't replicate the match pressure, the nervous energy. You're returning, like these guys are professionals.

"The doubles guys yesterday, they were serving massive. It's still reflex and volleys.

"For my wrist, it's all new ground now. Today is another building block I think in the journey.

"I went from literally practising with people unranked in Canberra to facing the biggest server in the world in a week.

"I think tomorrow is going to be a bit of a rough day for my wrist, to be honest. It's very sore at the moment. We were expecting that.

"I'm going to do all the right things, and I'll be playing doubles, for sure."