‘I’d love to play Novak Djokovic at the US Open, he’s arguably the greatest of all time’: Nick Kyrgios

‘I’d love to play Novak Djokovic at the US Open, he’s arguably the greatest of all time’: Nick Kyrgios

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios

It is no secret that World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios despise each other. Both players have often made their views clear in media, about their dislike for one another.

While the Serb has been quietly amassing titles and shattering records, the mercurial Aussie has been relentlessly making unpleasant remarks about Djokovic for various reasons.

A year ago, Kyrgios openly declared to the Guardian, “FOR ME PERSONALLY – I DON’T CARE RIGHT NOW, I’VE COME THIS FAR – I FEEL LIKE HE JUST WANTS TO BE LIKED SO MUCH THAT I JUST CAN’T STAND HIM. This whole celebration thing that he does after matches, it’s like so cringeworthy. It’s very cringeworthy.“

While probed on the matter and asked for his reactions, the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s riposte appeared classy.  “HE HAS GOT A BIG GAME. HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE HAS THE QUALITY TO BEAT ANY PLAYER REALLY IN THE WORLD IN THE PAST. OFF THE COURT, I DON’T HAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR HIM, TO BE HONEST. THAT’S WHERE I’LL CLOSE IT.”

As Kyrgios continued his attack on the top-ranked player, Djokovic preferred to brush aside all the negativity and like a true professional, moved on with his tennis. Interestingly, in a recent chat with the media at the ATP Citi Open tournament in Washington, the 26-year-old expressed his desire to play Djokovic at the upcoming 2021 US Open.

“I’d love to play Novak Djokovic at the US Open. He’s arguably the greatest of all time.”

Novak Djokovic has never beaten Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios

Despite Djokovic’s superior record over his peers on the ATP tour, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is yet to beat Kyrgios in his career. The two have met twice on the tour, and both times it has been the Aussie who has come out on top.

While Djokovic’s Golden Slam dream might have come to an end, but his aspirations of winning a Calendar Slam for 2021 is very much on course. He has already won the first three Slams of the year and will enter New York as the overwhelming favourite to win the US Open. Meanwhile, Kyrgios has never got past the third round in New York.

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Also read: Rafael Nadal displeased with Novak Djokovic’s racquet abuse episodes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics