Polarising Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has declared Novak Djokovic as the person to beat on the Aussie Open in 2023 and says tennis followers are ‘very fortunate’ to have the controversial Serbian again on our shores.
The previous world No.1 was sensationally deported previous to the 2022 Australian Open after being held in detention over his vaccination standing.
He was was initially banned from getting into the nation once more till 2025 however that call has been reversed by the Australian Authorities.
Kyrgios says the Australian Open might be higher for having Djokovic return and needs to check himself in opposition to the champion once more
Djokovic poses for pictures with the winners trophy after victory over Nick Kyrgios of Australia of their Males’s Singles Closing match on day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon
That implies that not solely will the 21-time grand slam winner contest the Australian Open, but additionally the Adelaide Worldwide
Whereas Kyrgios was vanquished by the Serbian within the Wimbledon closing this yr and has been concerned in a long-running disagreement with the 10-time Aussie Open champion, he has welcomed him again to the nation with open arms.
‘He is wholesome, able to play and placed on a present for our followers and for our nation – we’re very fortunate to have him,’ Kyrgios stated.
‘Look, he is the perfect participant on this planet for my part,’ stated Kyrgios of the person who will finish the yr because the No.5.
‘I am glad we’re welcoming him again to come back in and present what a fantastic tennis participant he’s.
Followers cheer exterior an immigration detention lodge the place Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is confined in Melbourne
Djokovic leaves the immigration detention lodge in Melbourne, headed for his attorneys workplace forward of a listening to to see if his visa might be canceled earlier this yr
‘I really feel like no match is a full-strength match with out Novak Djokovic in it.
‘Novak, [retired Roger] Federer and [Australian and French champion Rafael] Nadal, they had been at all times the three-headed monster all people needed to beat.’
His feedback come as a blazing rivalry between the Aussie and Djokovic blossoms right into a bromance that began when Kyrgios defended the Serbian in the course of the Covid deportation scandal initially of the yr.
Since then they’ve been buddying up on social media and made a pleasant wager over the result of the Wimbledon closing, with the winner to shout the loser dinner in London. Kyrgios even steered the 2 ought to exit nightclubbing collectively.
However Kyrgios was fast to say that the rivalry between the 2 had at all times been respectful.
‘The media tends to set the tone and so they kinda created a story we did not actually like one another,’ he stated.
‘However Novak is aware of I used to be the one individual to essentially rise up for him when a real-life concern occurred.
‘I really feel just like the respect, that when somebody does that for you, after they speak about you and rise up for you in entrance of an entire nation, that is when respect’s gained, not on the way you behave on a tennis courtroom in the direction of one another.’
Kyrgios and Djokovic are on pleasant phrases are years of barbs shared on social media, however the Aussie star stated the respect has at all times been there
Following the retirement of Federer, the exclusion of Djokovic on the Australian and US Opens and damage issues swirling round Nadal, there’s each probability there is likely to be a brand new grand slam winner in 2023.
Kyrgios reached his maiden grand slam closing at Wimbledon this yr whereas Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud within the US Open closing to recommend a altering of the guard is likely to be on the way in which.
When requested instantly if he thinks the likes of Djokovic and Nadal may be challenged this yr, Kyrgios was blunt.
‘I am gonna say ‘no’,’ he responded.
‘Effectively, Rafa will win the French Open, Djokovic will most likely win Wimbledon – except I cease him – so I do not know … Djokovic is so dominant that except somebody actually elevates their degree on the Australian Open or US Open, I can not see him shedding.
‘[Daniil] Medvedev may perhaps beat him. Look I would like to win one – however, realistically, he is so dominant.’
