Novak Djokovic: 'Nick Kyrgios is a great player, but I don't respect him outside..'

The eight-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic couldn't defend the ATP Cup crown despite two singles wins, failing to reach the semis and giving himself a couple of extra days ahead of the season's first Major. During the press conference, someone pulled an inevitable question about his thoughts on Nick Kyrgios and everything that the Aussie said about him recently. The 17-time Major winner said that he respects Nick as a player and someone always ready to bring something new and challenge the rivals from the top. Still, Novak can't say the same about Nick from outside the court, saying he has zero respect for him in that area and that he doesn't want to comment on anything that the Aussie told about him. Recently, Kyrgios called world no. 1 'a tool' and questioned  Djokovic's GOAT status since he never beat him! Djokovic and Kyrgios played twice within a couple of weeks in 2017, and the Aussie scored both wins in Acapulco and Indian Wells.

In Mexico, Kyrgios prevailed 7-6, 7-5 in an hour and 47 minutes, with Djokovic failing to reach the hard-court ATP semi-final for the first time since the ATP Finals 2011! Nick dropped 15 points in 12 service games and saved the only break point offered to the Serb to keep the pressure on the other side. Novak got broken in the second set's closing stages and lost the pivotal points to hit the exit door. A few weeks later, Kyrgios dethroned the five-time Indian Wells winner 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 51 minutes for his third Masters 1000 semi-final.

Novak Djokovic spoke about Nick Kyrgios before the start of the Australian Open.

Nick's first serve was a real enigma for Novak, blasting 14 aces with about the same number of service winners and keeping his second serve safe never to experience a break point. Novak made a slow start and never fully recovered after spraying 25 unforced errors. He saved four out of five break points to limit the damage, but Nick stayed focused to claim the second set tie break 7-3 for his second win over Djokovic in as many matches.

"I think that Nick is good for the sport; he is different. He goes about his tennis and off-court things in his authentic way. Like everyone else, I have respect for him because everyone has the right and freedom to choose how they want to express themselves and what they want to do. My respect goes to him for the tennis he's playing. I think he is a very talented guy; his game is big. He has proven that he has the 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 have any further comments for him, his comments for me, or anything else he's trying to do," Novak Djokovic said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3jszSMo