Novak Djokovic has revealed that he and Nick Kyrgios are in talks with Tennis Australia to organize an exhibition match leading up to the Australian Open. Djokovic, 35, kicked off his 2023 season at this week’s Adelaide International.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios pulled out of the United Cup and next week’s Adelaide International 2 due to an ankle injury. Now, it seems that Kyrgios would like to play at least one exhibition match leading up to the first Grand Slam of the season.
“We are talking with the Australian Open about doing something in a week prior to the start of the tournament. Yes, I chatted with Nick and I would like to play with him, and he accepted, but he wants shorter sets. Let’s see if that works out,” Djokovic revealed, per Nine’s World Wide of Sports.
Djokovic on his relationship with Kyrgios
It is not a secret that Djokovic and Kyrgios weren’t really best friends in the past. But it all changed after Kyrgios publicly and very vocally supported Djokovic during the infamous Australia visa saga.
Now, Djokovic admits that was the game-changer in their relationship. “I wasn’t his favourite guy – let’s take it that way – for many years. But he was one of the very few that stood by me last year, and I respect that and appreciate that.
In those moments you can actually see who truly supports you and who is by your side and who goes with the flow of the society and the pressures that media puts on you. He was giving undivided support in the moments where I was being challenged a lot, and him as an Australian, I respected that a lot.
Since then, our relationship has changed for the better,” Djokovic explained. In the summer, Kyrgios played Djokovic in his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. After Djokovic defeated Kyrgios, he encouraged him to keep his head high and told him there would be more great Grand Slam runs for him in the future.
