“I deal with it everywhere,” Nick Kyrgios talks of heckling at the Australian Open and the possible reception Novak Djokovic will get
With quite a lot of experience of playing as not the crowd's favorite, Nick Kyrgios expects a similar reception for him and Novak Djokovic at the upcoming 2023 Australian Open.
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Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic
Nick Kyrgios is confirmed as the No. 1 seeded player from Australia at the soon-to-be starting 2023 Australian Open. The Aussie is also one of the heavy favorites for the Grand Slam event this year. After his Doubles title last year at the Major, a new version of Kyrgios has been seen.
While he has continued with his entertaining actions, he has looked more focused on the Tour. He ended his trophy drought of three years in 2022 while making deep runs in Wimbledon and US Open. Despite the consistent performances, he still believes that not the whole crowd in Melbourne Park will back him.
Not that Kyrgios cares about the reception he receives, he rather had advice for his new ‘friend’ on the block, Novak Djokovic. The nine-time Australian Open winner returns to the competition after his deportation last year. Kyrgios talked about how he has developed a thick skin toward the heckling but believes Nole would have no choice but to face it again.
“I know people are always going to have people they hate on court and people they love. I’m one of the players that deals with it everywhere. I would just say Novak’s here, and he hasn’t made any rules. He’s here, and all he wants to do is put on a show. He’s chasing things that athletes rarely are able to chase.
“He’s one of the greatest athletes of all time, not just on a tennis court. I know there are going to be people that won’t want him to win, but I think they just can’t cross that line as fans,” said Kyrgios speaking to the press after his practice.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios to play their practice match as scheduled
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic‘s friendship is becoming marketable for Tennis Australia (TA). The two agreed to a practice match on Friday, 13th January, and TA made the best of it. The organizers of the Major priced the match scheduled to take place on Rod Laver Arena and the proceedings from the tickets will use for charity.
Owing to the two players’ huge popularity, the match sold out within an hour, 58 minutes to be precise. While Kyrgios used it to take a dig at his critics, a different issue rose. Djokovic’s other practice match ended in the first set due to an injury scare. His doctors advised him to not force his body and he quit mid-match.
The Serb has however not backed out of the match against Kyrgios and things will go ahead as planned. With the Grand Slam tournament just around the corner, it will be a real test for both players to check their levels coming into the first Major of the season.
Continue Reading:
- REVEALED: Novak Djokovic’s path to 10th-time glory in the Australian Open
- REVEALED: Iga Swiatek’s path to claim the maiden Australian open title
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Sarthak Shitole
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