The Australian, who has feuded with Serbs in the past over his COVID response, softens his stance
Nick Kyrgios warned on Saturday that Novak Djokovic would be unstoppable at the Australian Open if cleared to play, predicting that the world No. 1 will use his status as fuel to win another Grand Slam title .
The Serbian superstar was set to spend the weekend at the Melbourne Immigration Detention Facility pending an appeal after he was dramatically denied entry in Australia over his COVID-19 vaccine status.
Kyrgios has feuded with Djokovic in the past over his response to the coronavirus pandemic, but softened his stance on Saturday, saying he “feeled for her”.
Djokovic’s visa was canceled after he failed to meet the country’s tough pandemic restrictions, with a court challenge to cancel his visa up for hearing on Monday.
If successful, he will be gunning for a 10th Australian Open crown and a record 21st Grand Slam title – a milestone that Spanish great Rafael Nadal is also chasing at Melbourne Park.
Fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is injured but not in Australia.
“If he is allowed to play the Australian Open, I don’t want any bar on him. I think he is going to be angry,” Kyrgios said ahead of the practice tournament in Sydney ahead of the Australian Open on January 17.
added fuel
“He’s going to be very determined to play well, and stick to it (because) everyone for whatever he’s going through. I think it’s just extra fuel for him in my opinion.”
“We all know what a good competitor he is,” he said.
“You can’t be that kind of great champion without overcoming some of these adversities. I’m sure he has overcome a lot more challenging times than spending a few more days in hotel rooms. ,
Kyrgios called the Serbian’s dealings with Australia “really bad” on Friday and doubled down on Saturday, saying it “isn’t really humane, is it going on”.
“I think it’s okay, if it was a normal person they wouldn’t have to deal with all this. His life is probably just as hard, and I know how he is. I hope it all settles down soon.” Will go.”
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