Nick Kyrgios says Novak Djokovic needs to play 'at all costs' and 'we need him at these tournaments'
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Updated 22/12/2022 at 09:50 GMT
"He's one of the greatest of all time and as long as he's going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments." Speaking at the World Tennis League in Dubai, Nick Kyrgios welcomed the decision to allow Novak Djokovic to compete at the Australian Open after the 21-time Grand Slam winner did not play in 2022 after due to his vaccination status.
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Nick Kyrgios says that Novak Djokovic needs to be playing "at all costs".
The tennis and sporting world was thrown into huge controversy when Djokovic was banned from competing at the 2022 event due to his vaccination status.
The Serbian was deported just before the 2022 edition started and saw his visa cancelled "in the public interest” and ultimately missed the tournament which was won by Rafael Nadal.
However, he has been cleared to play in 2023 after the federal government overturned his visa ban, and Kyrgios believes this is good for tennis.
"I think Novak needs to be playing at all costs," said Kyrgios speaking at the World Tennis League in Dubai on Wednesday.
"He's one of the greatest of all time and as long as he's going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments."
"I think, as a competitor, I want to see him there," Kyrgios added.
"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."
Djokovic heads to Melbourne looking to equal the men’s Grand Slam record of 22, currently held by Nadal, as well as extend his own record of nine titles won Down Under.
The 35-year-old claimed his 21st major at Wimbledon where he beat Kyrgios in the final.
The two were set to lock horns again this week in Dubai but Djokovic was forced to withdraw at the last minute.
“Novak Djokovic announced that he would not be partaking in the World Tennis League event tonight due to not feeling 100 per cent well enough to play,” read a statement released by the WTL.
Kyrgios admitted he was disappointed not to face his old rival once more but understands Djokovic’s decision to pull out.
"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," said Kyrgios.
"But he's got to look after his body and obviously he's got a big couple of months coming up with a lot of expectations, so I wasn't surprised if he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent to get out there."
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