Novak Djokovic after Australian Open exhibition match vs Nick Kyrgios: Grateful for the reception, love and assist

Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic, the winner of 21 Grand Slam singles title, performed an exhibition match towards Nick Kyrgios on Friday, January 13 at Rod Laver Arena.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 14, 2023 11:53 IST

Grateful for the love and assist: Djokovic after Aus Open exhibition match vs Kyrgios. Courtesy: AP

By India Today Web Desk: 21-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic mentioned that he was awestruck with the love, assist and reception he acquired within the exhibition match towards Nick Kyrgios previous to the Australian Open 2023.

Earlier, Djokovic was apprehensive of his reception in Australia after the controversy he was concerned in earlier than the 2022 version of the match. The Serbian was deported from Australia after he failed to point out his Covid vaccination standing.

However, Djokovic, who shall be trying to win his tenth Australian Open singles title this time round, was grateful for the love he was showered with on the Rod Laver Arena.

“I was emotional coming into the court, as I said in the on-court interview with the reception I received, I didn’t know how that was going to go like after the events of last year. I am grateful for the kind of energy, reception, love and support I got last night,” Djokovic was quoted as saying in a press convention.

“It was great to be, of course, back in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena playing with Nick for a great cause in front of a packed stadium. Lots of fans, great energy, great tennis and I am also glad that we got to play with the wheelchair tennis champions as well. I thought it was important to shine the light on them and everything they are doing is really heroic and also some young future stars,” he added.

During the match, which had completely different guidelines to that of a standard match, Team Kyrgios defeated Team Djokovic 4-3(3) 2-4 10-9.

Heath David and David Wagner, the 2 wheelchair gamers, joined the occasion, after which 10-year-old juniors additionally confirmed their prowess.

— ENDS —

Edited By:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published On:

Jan 14, 2023