Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic are good friends in 2024, but their relationship wasn’t always this close. One significant event changed their relationship forever, and Kyrgios never saw it coming.
Initially, the Australian player didn’t have many issues with Djokovic while coming up through the ranks. Despite Kyrgios’ fair share of controversy, their paths didn’t intersect too frequently until the pandemic.
During the pandemic, Djokovic organized a series of exhibition matches in the Balkans to give spectators in his native region a chance to enjoy live tennis. Kyrgios criticized Djokovic’s decision on Twitter, questioning the events during a global health crisis.
Djokovic eventually responded to Kyrgios’s comments, expressing his displeasure with them.
“My respect goes to him for the tennis he’s playing. I think he’s a very talented guy, he’s got a big game and he’s proven that he has a quality to beat any player in the world.”
“Off the court, I don’t have much respect for him, to be honest. That’s where I’ll close it. I don’t really have any further comments for him and his own comments for me or anything else he’s trying to do.”
The dynamics changed dramatically during Djokovic’s 2022 Australian Open saga when he was deported from the country.
Kyrgios was one of the few players who spoke out in support of Djokovic during this tough time, earning his appreciation.
Djokovic expressed his gratitude towards Kyrgios for his support, leading to more regular communication between the two players.
Their Wimbledon final added a competitive edge to their relationship, which has since flourished. They practiced together in London this year, and their friendship has grown unexpectedly over the years.
“The fact that I played a Slam final with Novak at Wimbledon is crazy, because we’re so different that now we’re like friends and it’s amazing and I get to hit with him and help him, it’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah, it’s crazy. I never thought that I’d be really good friends with Novak Djokovic at all, and it’s not just on the courts. It’s like, we text each other, we send ridiculous memes and all this stuff on Instagram.”
