The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges globally, affecting various aspects of life, including professional tennis. Amid the pandemic’s impact, tennis legend Novak Djokovic faced deportation during the 2022 Australian Open due to his stance against vaccination. However, Nick Kyrgios, the Australian tennis player, stood by Djokovic, supporting his decision.
Kyrgios was one of the few to support Djokovic’s act which caught widespread attention, for which he earned respect from the Serb player. The appreciation was recently mentioned by Djokovic during a charity event ahead of the start of the 2024 Australian Open.
🔉🔊 @DjokerNole
— TRAVEL&Sp🎾rts (@travel__Sports) January 12, 2024
⏳ "I don't know what I have done to cause THAT kind of behavior – yours towards me 😇
⌛️ … Then 2 years ago, the thing – what happened here in Australia … and YOU STOOD UP FOR ME❣️ That was a BIG SURPRISE❣️ #neverForget
Since THAT moment #GoodTrouble pic.twitter.com/37qvVenCiL
During their interaction at the ‘Novak Djokovic and Friends’ event, Djokovic publicly thanked Kyrgios for his support during the vaccination-related controversy. Djokovic emphasized that Kyrgios was among the few colleagues who stood by him during the challenging time of deportation.
“Then two years ago, the thing – what happened here in Australia….and you stood up for me. That was a big surprise.”
These words of gratitude from Djokovic hinted at the growing camaraderie between the two. It was the first time that Djokovic publicly expressed his thankfulness. They had discussions about practicing together at Melbourne Park, with Kyrgios recovering from an ankle injury and missing out on his home major.
Nick Kyrgios comes up with a tip for Novak Djokovic’s opponents at the 2024 Australian Open
Nick Kyrgios, who has been sidelined from the Australian Open for a second consecutive year due to injuries, recently came up with a suggestion for the players who will face Novak Djokovic at the 2024 event starting January 14.
Kyrgios, who will be in a commentary role with the Eurosport during the tournament, advised players who are in contention for the title to book reasonably priced tickets in advance, implying the difficulty faced in defeating Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic is the top seed in the men’s singles draw, and will be aiming for his 11th Australian Open title.
Oh boy… Grab the popcorn! 🍿@NickKyrgios is taking us through the #AO2024 draw 👀 pic.twitter.com/J4qmBMojyf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
