“I wasn’t surprised,” Nick Kyrgios breaks silence on Novak Djokovic’s last minute withdrawal in Dubai
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Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic after their match.
The entire world was anticipating the exciting clash of the 2022 Wimbledon finalists- Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios. Both the players were also excited to play with each other again. The World Tennis League (WTL) advertised for this epic clash. More tickets were sold for this match than any other.
However, destiny had some other plans. The 21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was not feeling 100% well. Hence, as a result, he decided to sit out for the match, supporting his team from the bench.
When Nick Kyrgios was asked to share his views, he seems to have understood the situation with the Serb.
“I was pretty excited to play Novak obviously, since Wimbledon final and all that, wanted to go out there and have some fun with him. But he’s got to look after his body and he’s a got a big couple of months coming up with a lot of expectations, so I wasn’t surprised if he wasn’t feeling 100 percent to get out there.” he responded.
In his place, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov played for Team Falcons against Nick Kyrgios of Team Eagles. He defeated the Australian by 7-6, 6-3, to give the lead to his team. However, it was not enough as Team Eagles defeated Team Falcons on the number of games won.
“But Grigor is a good mate of mine, it was good to get out there and get some load under the body again. Every day just feeling a little bit better physically. Just getting those two tough singles matches under my belt, feeling well, getting through those without anything kind of pulling up, so that’s a bonus,” the Australian continued.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios: Head-to-Head
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios are both Grand Slam title, winners. The Serb has won 21 Grand Slams in his career, while Nick Kyrgios won his career’s first Grand Slam title, i.e., the 2022 Australian Open doubles title with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. He came very close to winning his career’s first Grand Slam singles title at this year’s Wimbledon.
But this was not the first time when the two players met each other on the tennis circuit. Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic have met three times throughout their careers. And Surprisingly, the Australian leads the Serb head-to-head. The 2022 Australian Open doubles champion defeated the 21-time Grand Slam champion twice. Once in the Quarter-final round of the Mexico Open and another in the Round of 16 matches of the Indian Wells Open.
But this was the story of 2017. Also, these matches were played on the hard court. This year they met again in Wimbledon where Novak Djokovic defeated Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-7 in the final. Tennis fans may have to wait for the 2023 season to start to watch both gentlemen play once again against each other.
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