Australian tennis ace Nick Kyrgios is thrilled that Novak Djokovic might be welcomed again to Australia to compete within the much-anticipated first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne subsequent month by claiming the Serb’s presence is crucial to the game and that he “needs to be playing at all costs.”
Djokovic was banned from returning to Australia as a consequence of being deported earlier this 12 months over his refusal to be vaccinated. However, that call has been reversed and the 21-time main champion will get the chance to vie for a record-extending tenth Australian Open crown in just a few weeks’ time.
Kyrgios was probably the most outspoken gamers advocating for Djokovic throughout his deportation debacle final January, and the Australian world quantity 22 feels the 35-year-old’s presence is crucial at each occasion. “I think Novak needs to be playing at all costs. He’s one of the greatest of all times and as long as he’s going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments,” Kyrgios advised Agence France-Presse (AFP) on the World Tennis League in Dubai on Wednesday.
Djokovic’s absence from two of the 4 majors in 2022 resulting from his vaccination standing has made method for younger abilities to emerge.
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz claimed a maiden Grand Slam title on the U.S. Open and consequently grew to become the youngest world primary in ATP historical past.
“I think, as a competitor, I want to see him there. And if I win a tournament, if you don’t go through Novak, then you kind of know the tournament isn’t really a tournament,” Kyrgios stated of Djokovic.
Kyrgios and Djokovic had been scheduled to sq. off in Dubai on Wednesday however the Serb pulled out forward of the match and was changed by his teammate Grigor Dimitrov.
“Novak Djokovic announced that he would not be partaking in the World Tennis League event tonight (Dec. 21) due to not feeling 100 per cent well enough to play. Team Falcons will continue to play against Team Eagles and we look forward to Novak’s return to centre court,” learn an announcement launched by the WTL.
Kyrgios was eager to get again on the court docket towards Djokovic, who defeated the Australian within the Wimbledon ultimate final July.
“I was pretty excited to play Novak obviously, since the 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 obviously, 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% to get out there,” stated Kyrgios.
The WTL is a mixed-team occasion underway at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena that includes 18 of the world’s prime gamers between Dec. 19 and 24.
