From ‘I don’t respect him’ to ‘He’s a kind of God’: reasons behind Djokovic and Kyrgios’ newfound friendship

Kyrgios walks to one of Wimbledon’s practice courts and just before reaching the designated one, he sees Djokovic occupying another auxiliary court to do the same. For a few seconds, they pass each other and the Serb doesn’t hesitate to talk to Nick: “It took you five years to say something nice about me he said in a friendly tone. The Australian doesn’t stop walking, he doesn’t even look at him, but he responds with a “But I stood up for you when it mattered “, receiving the approval of the one who beat him this Sunday in the Wimbledon final. “It’s true. you did it and i appreciate it Novak replied.

This dialogue, which took place during the last training session of the two before the final, marks very well the relationship that the two tennis players have maintained throughout their careers. For years, the Canberra native had Djokovic as one of his closest enemies on the tour, always finding the opportunity to criticize him or confront him with his flaws or mistakes. An attitude which on the other side of the mesh found diplomacy, but coldness.

That until this year, when due to the pandemic (the same one that gave them their hottest moment in 2020) and due to the Australian government’s ban on Serbs, Kyrgios stood up for Nole. It was the start of a “friendship” that culminated at Wimbledon. From being enemies to sending me invitations to go out to eat. The “bromance” between the two is real.

The first time Kyrgios spoke ill of Novak was way back in 2019. The Aussie took to a conversation in a podcast to offer his thoughts on the Serbian, candidly replying: “I feel like he has an unhealthy need to be loved. He wants to be like Federer. It gets embarrassing. He never says what he really thinks, only what he thinks is the speech expected by those who listen to him. “, was one of the phrases that Nick launched on this occasion. A statement that for many would go unnoticed, but which would resonate again during the next (and perhaps strongest) controversy between them.

This happened in July 2020, when the pandemic hit much of the planet very hard. The context was in the criticized “Adria Tour”, a circuit managed by Djokovic and other top tennis players to find a level after the break due to the Covid-19 emergency. On this occasion, not only several players tested positive (including Djokovic), but some videos were also made public where the tennis players (before showing symptoms) were shown celebrating shirtless in a box of crowded night.

“It just shows what Thiem, Zverev and Djokovic think is a joke, with the two partying like potatoes during a global pandemic. People losing lives, loved ones and friends” wrote the oceanic on his networks after the leaked images were made public.

In this way, Kyrgios has been one of the tennis players most critical of Nole’s actions during the pandemic, even criticizing him again during the 2021 Australian Open, when the Serb was upset over the mandatory quarantines. and where he was also seen without a mask in an organization car. “It’s a puppet … ridiculous scene”, he commented on this occasion.

A comment that ended up provoking a reaction from the native of the Balkans. “Kyrgios is good for the sport. He is a bit different tennis player who has a lot of talent. Like the rest of the tennis players, I have a lot of respect for him every time I face him at every game. Off the track things change and I have no respect for him. I have nothing more to say about him.” said the former number one at a press conference.

Something that triggered the Wimbledon runner-up just finished throwing the whole charge to answer him. “It’s weird for me because he says he doesn’t respect me off the pitch. It would make perfect sense to me if he said he doesn’t respect me on the pitch, because I understand if he disagrees with some things I’ve done on the pitch in the past. But I don’t know how he can think that of me off the pitch when I’ve done very well. Especially during the pandemic. This is very strange to me, why would I say this? I do a lot of things off the pitch. I don’t know if I can take anything from this man.” completed.

But a year after this crossing, the relationship between the two has turned 180 degrees. It was again in Australia that their paths crossed, but unlike 2021, it was now in the same direction.

We know the ban that Djokovic had to play the tournament for his decision not to get vaccinated. Something that at the time was not 100% clear, since the Serb had obtained an exception to be able to play the event, but not the authorization from the state. This meant that once Novak arrived in Australia, he was detained by immigration.

A controversy that lasted 11 days and which kept everyone attentive and taking a stand. This angered Kyrgios, who surprisingly came to Nole’s defense. “They say it’s a threat to our borders. It’s not that. Right now it’s like a weapon of mass destruction. He’s there to play tennis, he doesn’t bother anyone. The mistreatment of the people of Melbourne at this time was appalling. On a human level, you need the support of other players. Tsitsipas, I understand that you have your point of view on vaccination. Murray, always politically correct. Nadal, whatever… but where is your support for Novak? Imagine how you feel.” he said on this occasion.

This statement changed everything. At the darkest moment in the career of the winner of 21 major tournaments, the least expected rival has taken his side. An action that prompted Djoko himself to thank him on social networks, but above all that he left behind what he had experienced before.

And at Wimbledon, it was all love. The relationship between the two was only apparent and once news broke that the two would be hosting the men’s final, the world learned that those who were rivals were now friends. “We have a kind of bromance (very close relationship between friends). It’s rare. I think everyone knew we hadn’t gotten along for a long time. I think it was healthy for the sport because every time we played together there was a lot of expectation. It was interesting for the press and for the fans “, declared Nick in a press conference.

A situation that he explained bluntly:I think I was the only one who defended him when Australia arrived. It is in these situations that you gain people’s respect. Not on the tennis court, but when there’s a real crisis in real life and someone has your back ”.

Something that was proven with what came later. The first was the meeting which is related at the beginning of this text. Then the crossover of Instagram stories, where Djoko bet him a dinner after the final and where “the Aussie” invited him to a nightclub to go crazy.

But perhaps the clearest moment was during the tournament’s award ceremony, where the two had touching words for each other. “It’s like some kind of god Nick said. “I never thought I’d say so many nice things about you. It’s officially a bromance and I hope it’s the start of a beautiful friendship. Novak commented with the cup in his arms.