Tennis News: Australia’s Nick Kyrgios says he can admit that everyone is different and that he does not hate world number 1 Novak Djokovic
World number 40 tennis player Kyrgios has competed against a tennis player who has won 17 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic twice.
Kyrgios can feel proud about the positive results against Djokovic after he was 2-0 in head to head against Djokovic. Even Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s classmates did not excel head to head against Djokovic.
Through Instagram Live with a good friend and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, who won six ATP tournament titles, Kyrgios revealed, “I actually don’t hate anyone. I can admit that everyone is different. I don’t like some of the things he (Djokovic) does, but I don’t hate him.”
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One season ago, Kyrgios appeared on the No Challenges Remaining podcast and shared honest thoughts about Djokovic.
“I just felt he was too obsessed with wanting to be liked. He just wants to be like Roger (Federer). For me personally – I don’t care now, I’ve come this far – I feel he just wants to be liked so I can’t stand him, “Kyrgios said at the time.
“All the celebrations (blowing kisses to the audience) that he did after the match, it seemed to make me shudder.”
“But we are talking about tennis players who withdraw from the Australian Open because the conditions are too hot. No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest player for me. It’s simple, because I competed twice and I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest player of all time.”
Previously, Australian tennis player, Nick Kyrgios openly disagreed if the Grand Slam was held without the presence of fans.
While the US Open said they were likely to hold a tournament this season – scheduled to start on 31 August – without spectators, the organizers of the Australian Open this month revealed that they were exploring all the choices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Australia has become one of the leading countries to overcome the spread of COVID-19, it seems that the Australian Open 2021 does not need to be held without fans. But if that happens, Kyrgios states that he will reject the idea.
“One hundred percent no,” answered Kyrgios when asked by his compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis through social media conversations whether he would play the Grand Slam without the presence of fans.
In the light conversation, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis – both of whom had been a double number pair when they were junior players – also mentioned the prototype of their dream tennis player.
