Nick Kyrgios believes Novak Djokovic “should play at all costs” and is pleased that the Serb will return to Australia next month to compete in the opening Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne. Djokovic was not allowed to return to Australia because he was deported earlier this year for refusing to be vaccinated. However, that decision has been reversed and the 21-time main champion will have a chance to compete for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown in a few weeks.
Kyrgios was one of the most outspoken players to advocate for Djokovic during his deportation debacle last January and the Australian world number 22 thinks the 35-year-old’s presence is essential at any event.
“I think Novak should play at all costs,” Kyrgios told AFP on Wednesday during the World Tennis League in Dubai.
“He’s one of the best of all time and as long as he keeps playing and sticking around, we need him in these tournaments.”
Djokovic’s absence from two of the four majors in 2022 due to his vaccination status has given way to the emergence of young talent.
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz won a first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open to become the youngest world number one in ATP history.
“I think I want to see him as a competitor there,” Kyrgios said of Djokovic.
“And if I win a tournament, if you don’t go through Novak, then you kind of know that the tournament isn’t really a tournament.”
Kyrgios and Djokovic were due to face each other in Dubai on Wednesday, but the Serb pulled out prior to the game and was replaced by his teammate Grigor Dimitrov.
“Novak Djokovic has announced that he will not be participating in the World Tennis League event tonight (December 21) because he is not feeling 100 percent well enough to play,” the WTL said in a statement.
“Team Falcons will continue to play against Team Eagles and we look forward to Novak’s return to center court.”
Kyrgios was eager to get back on court against Djokovic, who beat the Australian in the Wimbledon final last July.
“Obviously I was pretty excited to play against Novak, since the Wimbledon final and all, I wanted to go out and have some fun with him,” said Kyrgios.
“But he needs to take care of his body and he obviously has a big few months ahead of him with a lot of expectations, so I wasn’t surprised he didn’t feel 100 per cent about going out there.”
The WTL is a mixed team event taking place between December 19 and 24 at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai featuring 18 of the world’s best players.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured video of the day
“It Feels Great”: Indian women’s hockey team captain on winning the FIH Nations Cup trophy
Topics mentioned in this article