Nick Kyrgios says Australia is “very lucky” to have Novak Djokovic back for its summer of tennis and has declared the returning Serb as still the man to beat at Melbourne Park and throughout 2023.
Djokovic will begin his campaign to regain the Australian Open title, first as a part of a high-quality Adelaide International warm-up at the turn of the year before he turns his attention towards annexing a record-extending 10th crown in the season-opening grand slam.
And after being a vocal supporter of Djokovic over his treatment at the start of the year when he was detained and then deported by authorities ahead of the Australian Open, Kyrgios told AAP: “He’s healthy, ready to play and put on a show for our fans and for our country – we’re very lucky to have him.”
The Serbian, who’s being allowed back into Australia after being granted a visa by the Australian government, had a truncated grand slam season because of his stance over not being vaccinated but did win his 20th major at Wimbledon, defeating Kyrgios in the final.
“Look, he’s the best player in the world in my opinion,” said Kyrgios of the man who’ll end the year as the no.5.
“I’m glad we’re welcoming him back to come in and show what a great tennis player he is.
“I feel like no tournament is a full-strength tournament without Novak Djokovic in it.
“Novak, (the retired Roger) Federer and (Australian and French champion Rafael) Nadal, they were always the three-headed monster everybody wanted to beat.”
Asked about his relationship with Djokovic, which famously seemed to blossom into a ‘bromance’ between the pair at Wimbledon after years of apparent acrimony, Kyrgios said: “It’s not really a new relationship – but the media tends to set the tone and they kinda created a narrative we didn’t really like each other.
“But Novak knows I was the only person to really stand up for him when a real-life issue occurred.
“I feel like the respect, that when someone does that for you, when they talk about you and stand up for you in front of a whole nation, that’s when respect’s gained, not on how you behave on a tennis court towards each other.”
Asked by reporters at the exhibition Diriyah Tennis Cup event in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on Thursday about whether there might be a new men’s grand slam singles champ in 2023, Kyrgios responded: “I’m gonna say ‘no’.
“Well, Rafa will win the French Open, Djokovic will probably win Wimbledon – unless I stop him – so I don’t know … Djokovic is so dominant that unless someone really elevates their level at the Australian Open or US Open, I can’t see him losing.
“(Daniil) Medvedev could maybe beat him. Look I’d love to win one – but, realistically, he’s so dominant.”
Kyrgios was beaten in the first round in Riyadh in two super-tiebreak ‘sets’ – 10-6 10-6 – by Britain’s Cameron Norrie, but hardly seemed too worried with a six-figure payday coming his way whatever his results.
His early exit meant he would be playing more doubles instead over the three-day event. “Obviously, it wasn’t the result I wanted but all credit to Cam, he just played solid and I made a few too many errors – and in the tie-break format, it’s always hard,” he shrugged.
“I’m not too mad about it. I feel like I’ve given the fans a little bit of Nick Kyrgios, which is okay, but hopefully the doubles will go a bit better.”
By Ian Chadband in London
