Nick Kyrgios Reflects on His Surprising Friendship with Novak Djokovic

Nick Kyrgios has expressed his astonishment at the unexpected friendship he has developed with Novak Djokovic. Throughout his career, Kyrgios has been both a controversial and captivating presence in tennis, unafraid to speak his mind—including his past criticisms of Djokovic.

In 2020, Kyrgios openly critiqued Djokovic for organizing a tennis event during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the spread of the virus. He was also vocal about his disapproval when Djokovic wrote to Australian Open officials in 2021 seeking relaxed coronavirus restrictions. At that time, Djokovic admitted to having no personal respect for Kyrgios. Despite their rocky past, the two have since formed a close friendship, much to Kyrgios’ surprise.

Discussing their relationship on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, Kyrgios remarked, “It’s crazy that I played a Slam final with Novak at Wimbledon. We’re so different, yet now we’re friends. It’s wonderful—I get to hit with him, help him, and we even exchange texts and memes. I never imagined we’d be close beyond the tennis court.”

Their evolving bond became noticeable to the public following the 2022 Wimbledon final. After winning his seventh title, Djokovic praised Kyrgios as a worthy finalist and one of the top players globally. Their connection extended to friendly exchanges on social media, joint practice sessions, and exhibition matches.

Kyrgios’ support was particularly significant during Djokovic’s controversial deportation from Australia ahead of the 2022 Australian Open. This gesture strengthened their friendship and was acknowledged by Djokovic in a lighthearted appearance on Kyrgios’ Good Trouble podcast, where he joked, “I never thought I’d say so many nice things about you. It’s officially a bromance.” He credited Kyrgios for being one of the few colleagues to publicly support him, forging a lasting bond between them.