Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic.Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty; GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty
Nick Kyrgiosis calling outNovak Djokovic.
Speaking to reporters on Monday following his firstAustralian Openmatch, which he won in straight sets, the Australian tennis player, 25, was asked to comment on Djokovic’s recent criticism of him.
The previous day, the Serbian star, 33, told reporters that while he thinks Kyrgios is a “very talented guy … off the court,I don’t have much respect for him.”
Last month, Kyrgios publicly called Djokovic a “tool” in response to a letter the athlete sent to Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, in which hesuggested easing quarantine restrictionsfor players. (Djokovic laterissued a statementclaiming his “good intentions” had been “misconstrued.")
Kyrgios was also critical of thecontroversial tennis eventDjokovic organized last year, which was canceled after several players, including Djokovic,tested positive for COVID-19.
“Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE,” Kyrgioswroteon Twitter at the time.
Nick Kyrgios.Graham Denholm/Getty
“But I’m not quite sure how he can’t respect me off the court. I feel like I’ve gone about things extremely well, especially during the pandemic,” he continued. “I was driving around delivering food to people during the pandemic that didn’t or couldn’t get the supplies. I was extremely careful about what I was doing. I didn’t want to spread the virus to anyone.
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Although he credited the Serbian athlete with being a “heck of a tennis player,” Kyrgios said he wasn’t sure he could take Djokovic’s criticism seriously given his own off-court behavior.
“Someone that’spartying with his shirt offduring a global pandemic, I don’t know if I can take any slack from that man,” he said. “That’s as bad as it gets for me.”
Kyrgios will next face off tomorrow against France’s Ugo Humbert while Djokovic’s second round match will be American Frances Tiafoe.
source: people.com
