Australian Nick Kyrgios during a men’s singles quarterfinal match against Chilean Cristian Garin on the tenth day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 6, 2022. The Associated Press
Nick Kyrgios, once considered a fierce critic of Novak Djokovic, emerged as an unlikely ally during the chaotic deportation of the Serb from Melbourne in early 2022 and his current “bromance” feels “really strange” for the Australian .
The 27-year-old described Djokovic’s unfortunate Adria Tour amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as “fleshless” and called it a “tool” last year when the tennis major wrote to organizers of the Australian Open calling for quarantine conditions to be reduced. .
But in January Kyrgios said he was embarrassed by the deal on Djokovic, who was arrested by local authorities, released and detained again before being deported before the Australian Open.
“We definitely have a bit of bromance now, which is weird,” Kyrgios said Friday. “I think everyone knows that there was no love lost for a while.
“I felt like I was almost the only type of player and someone who defended him with all this kind of drama at the Australian Open.
“I feel like this is where respect is earned. Not on the tennis court, but it seems to me that when a real life crisis happens and someone defends you …
“Actually, we send each other messages on DM (direct messages) on Instagram now and everything. It’s really weird. In fact, earlier in the week, he said, ‘I hope to see you on Sunday.’
Kyrgios will play his first Grand Slam final on Sunday at the Wimbledon center court, where he will meet six-time champion and series leader Djokovic, or Briton Cameron Norrie.
He will be the first Australian to play a men’s singles final on the All England Club’s manicured turf since Mark Philippoussis in 2003.
Polarized opinion
Since the days of John McEnroe’s tantrums, one player has not polarized opinion as much as Kyrgios and there is always a buzz around the Australian, either on the court or at his press conferences.
His Australian teammate Pat Cash, former Wimbledon champion, told the BBC earlier this week that Kyrgios’ behavior had damaged the sport’s position after his victory over Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in a toxic clash third round.
Asked what it would mean to join a long line of great Australians to win the Wimbledon title, the 27-year-old temperament unloaded.
“I mean, look, when it comes to the greats of Australian tennis, they haven’t always been the friendliest of me personally. They haven’t always supported it, ”Kyrgios said.
“They haven’t supported these two weeks. So I find it hard to read things they say about me.
“It’s pretty sad because I don’t get any support from … like the greats of the past. It’s weird that they just have a sickly obsession with tearing me down for some reason.
“I don’t know if they don’t like it or have, like, fear. I don’t know what it is. But it sucks, because if they were inverted roles, if you saw (Alex) Minaur in a finale, or if you saw Jordan Thompson or Thanasi ( Kokkinakis), I’d love to. I’d love to. I’d be taking a look, I’d go crazy. “
Kyrgios, however, chose his Australian compatriot Lleyton Hewitt, who won the Wimbledon title in 2002, as special accolades and thanked him for his support over the years.
“He’s our Davis Cup captain, and he knows I’m doing mine. I’m definitely the pariah of Australian players,” Kyrgios said.
“He knows how to keep his distance and let me do it. He just sends me a message here or there, ‘Keep it up.’ That’s literally. Just, ‘Well done. Keep it up.’