Nick Kyrgios Urges Critics to Stop Asking Novak Djokovic About Retirement As He Reflects on Their Bond: “He’s a Kid Around Me”

Novak Djokovic wants to call time on his glorious career at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Nick Kyrgios Urges Critics to Stop Asking Novak Djokovic About Retirement As He Reflects on Their Bond: “He’s a Kid Around Me”

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios (Image via BBC)

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While Novak Djokovic is preparing for the Australian Open, which will commence on January 18th, Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the home Slam and will be back next year. The Aussie will feature in doubles, where he once again is expected to team up with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, with whom he lifted the 2022 Australian Open doubles.

Djokovic will continue his hunt for his 25th Major in Melbourne, where he last lifted the title back in 2023 by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas. The last time he won a Major was at the 2023 US Open, and the following year, he reached one more Grand Slam final, at Wimbledon, losing that match to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.

At this stage of his career, his body is not supporting him the way it used to. The Serb, in fact, received treatment on his neck during his practice session, so his Australian Open participation is in doubt. Prior to arriving in Melbourne, Djokovic withdrew from the Adelaide International as he was not physically ready to play a tournament.

The critics of Djokovic, for sure, want to see him hang up his racket. Some even think Djokovic has achieved a lot in his career, so instead of struggling in tournaments and chasing his historic 25th Major, he should join his fellow Big 3 members, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But Kyrgios is not of the same opinion.

Kyrgios, who lost his only Grand Slam final to the 38-year-old at the 2022 Wimbledon, shares a good bond with Nole. Their friendship developed following Kyrgios’ support for the Serb during the vaccination saga before the 2022 Australian Open.

We do get along very well. We do get along very well now. When he is around me, he just feels like he is a bit of a kid again. He is a big kid, Novak, and I think he just has so much pressure everywhere he goes, and we always talk like, is he gonna retire, is he gonna do something like…can we just let him go around and play like, regardless of if he loses the first round or wins a Slam? Like, what more does he have to do? As long as he hangs around, it’s only good for the sport.

Nick Kyrgios told SBS Sport

Kyrgios made his comeback to the court at the Brisbane International, where in singles, he lost to Aleksandar Kovacevic. In doubles, he and Kokkinakis first defeated Matthew Ebden and Rajeev Ram, then lost to the pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in the second round.

Tim Henman says Novak Djokovic will struggle more in the 2026 season

Age, for sure, is catching up with Novak Djokovic. Tim Henman thinks the problem that Djokovic is dealing with at this stage of his career is all physical and not at all mental. As Djokovic will turn 39 this May, the former British No.1 thinks the 24-time Grand Slam champion will struggle more this season.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via ATP/X)

But did his tennis game let him down, or was it the physical demands? It was the physical demands, and as he’s now a year older. I just think that issue is going to be even bigger than it was in 2025. I’ll be interested to see his tennis level, to see whether it’s still at that height. But for me, the challenge is all physical. It’s not technical or mental.

Tim Henman told TNT Sports

Last year, Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four Majors, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ending his three campaigns with straight set wins. Djokovic, however, finished the season with two titles.

He first lifted the Geneva Open by beating Hubert Hurkacz, then went past Lorenzo Musetti in the first edition of the Hellenic Championship. Djokovic finished the season in the fourth spot in the rankings table.

Also read: Former World No.1 Tips Jannik Sinner to Win the Australian Open Despite Carlos Alcaraz Challenge