Serbia’s Novak Djokovic was met with a thunderous ovation as he stepped out onto the court docket at Melbourne Park for an overflowing apply match towards Australia’s Nick Kyrgios.
The Australian Open has placed on a collection of warm-up encounters constructing as much as the beginning of the match on Monday, culminating on this contest on Rod Laver Arena.
All the cut-price tickets costing 20 Australian {dollars} ($13.95) offered out inside an hour of occurring sale and any fears Djokovic might have had in regards to the reception he would obtain following final 12 months’s deportation would have dissipated when he noticed the variety of Serbian flags within the crowd.
Speaking after strolling onto the court docket, the nine-time champion mentioned: “I’m thrilled. Thank you a lot. I really feel a bit emotional. I used to be wanting ahead to coming again to this court docket.”
As effectively because the feelings of returning to Melbourne, Djokovic has been battling a left hamstring harm and wore tape on his leg, whereas Kyrgios pulled out of representing Australia on the United Cup due to his personal leg difficulty.
But this was not an encounter to check both man’s health, with the light-hearted contest seeing Djokovic dancing on the court docket earlier than the 2 males have been joined for the ultimate tie-break by wheelchair stars David Wagner and Heath Davidson and two junior gamers.
Djokovic and Kyrgios each wore microphones and performed to the gang, who lapped up their antics.
Speaking afterward, Djokovic mentioned: “It simply feels nice to be again in Australia, again in Melbourne. This is the court docket the place I created the very best reminiscences of my tennis profession.”
Kyrgios was one of many few gamers to face up for Djokovic final 12 months within the row over his vaccination standing, thawing what had been a frosty relationship.
“It’s just so important to have him around,” said Kyrgios. “I don’t suppose we knew how particular these guys are to our sport.”
Both males, who might meet on the identical court docket within the quarter-finals, start their campaigns on Tuesday, Djokovic towards Roberto Carballes Baena whereas Kyrgios takes on Roman Safiullin.
