Nick Kyrgios Hopes Novak Djokovic Will “Play as Long as Possible” After Adelaide Setback
Nick Kyrgios crashed out of the Brisbane International after losing to Aleksandar Kovacevic.
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Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/We Are Tennis)
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Nick Kyrgios has urged Novak Djokovic to continue his active career in the sport despite withdrawing from the Adelaide International on Monday (January 5). The Australian star noted that Djokovic deserves appreciation for his achievements and illustrious career in tennis, making him a player to look up to.
Djokovic has not played a tour-level match since beating Lorenzo Musetti in the final of the Hellenic Championship in early November. For the past few years, the former World No.1 has become very selective about when and where he plays. Before the 2026 season, he revealed that he was going to play at the Adelaide International.
The ATP 250 tournament kicks off just six days before the Australian Open and was meant to be a warm-up tournament. In fact, there were some clips on social media showing him training with his team ahead of the event. But a day after he announced that he was no longer part of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), he declared that he had withdrawn from Adelaide.
In a post on social media, he stated that he was not physically ready to take part in the upcoming tournament. That means the 38-year-old will enter the Melbourne Grand Slam without a warm-up tournament, which is a concern because Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are in top form.
Djokovic has failed to win a Grand Slam for the past two years and has only managed to reach one final in the last major events. However, Kyrgios maintained during his interview with the Daily Telegraph that Djokovic can play on tour as long as he wants as the sport needs a legend like him to be around:
But I think we should just cherish the fact that someone that old in our sport is still at the top of it and still gives everything to it. The longer we have guys like this around, the better it is for our sport. I feel like there’s been a void in the sport ever since (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal left … and obviously when Novak goes, that era is completely gone. I want him to stay for as long as possible.
Djokovic won two titles last season, both coming in ATP 250 events. He managed to reach the semi-finals of the four Grand Slams, but couldn’t get past either Sinner or Alcaraz. The World No.4 will be seeking to win his 11th Australian Open, despite not winning a big title last year, while hoping that Sinner and Alcaraz crash out before the semi-finals.
Nick Kyrgios suffers an opening-round defeat at the Brisbane International
Nick Kyrgios suffered an opening-round loss at the Brisbane International. After his Battle of the Sexes exhibition win against Aryna Sabalenka, there were hopes the Aussie would get better on the court, but he lost 3-6, 4-6 against Aleksandar Kovacevic, which lasted just an hour and five minutes in Queensland.
The World No.670 is aiming to build up his fitness so he can gain a wildcard for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18 in Melbourne, but with his display in Brisbane, he’s unlikely to get it. During the aforementioned interview, he revealed that he’s not afraid to lose a match:
It’s hard to go out there — there was a time when I won this tournament, and now even just going out there, there is no shame in losing. Even me going out there and taking another loss on the chin, to someone that, to most tennis fans and people, is someone I shouldn’t lose to, but I’m not afraid to lose.
Kyrgios will be on the court again in Brisbane in the men’s doubles on Wednesday (January 7). He will play with his partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, before taking part in the Kooyong Classic warm-up exhibition event in Melbourne next week.
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