Tennis news: Nick Kyrgios has thrown his support behind Novak Djokovic playing at the Aus Open
Nick Kyrgios has thrown his support behind Novak Djokovic to play at this year’s Australian Open while also giving his tick to another much maligned sports star.
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Nick Kyrgios has thrown his support behind two of the world’s most polarising athletes, urging Australian officials to allow Novak Djokovic to compete in next year’s Australian Open, while defending basketballer Ben Simmons amid his turbulent NBA period.
All too familiar with criticism, Kyrgios hopes Simmons weather the storm which has followed his bitter departure from Philadelphia 76ers to joining the Brooklyn Nets this year.
The Nets have made a 1-4 start to the season, and Simmons’ missed air ball lay-up in the loss to Dallas Mavericks on Friday was mercilessly mocked on social media.
“He’s had such success at the start of his career, he’s an NBA All-Star, not many players can say that,” Kyrgios said at the opening of the new NBA store in Sydney’s Martin Place.
“With those accolades comes an enormous amount of responsibility and pressure, and I can only imagine what he’s going through.
“I’ve experienced my fair share and it’s hard, the negativity is hard. I would say just keep going, just try to navigate through the storm, he’s a hell of a player.
“The media and people love to zone in on the weaknesses of people, and not really focus on the strengths. I’m behind him, I want to see him succeed, as I do all Australian athletes.
“If you break it down, he’s a young man making enormous amounts of money as an NBA All-Star, living an amazing life, he’s working hard and he’s inspiring millions of people.
“Think about what he’s done for the youth in Australia to play basketball, who say ‘I want to pick up the ball because of Ben Simmons’. That’s what I care about, I don’t care about what I read, I know he’s a great player and I know what he does off the court.”
And of his own tennis rival, Djokovic – who was deported from Australia before this year’s Open due to being unvaccinated for Covid-19, then defeated Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final – the Australian pleaded with authorities to clear the Serb for January’s tournament.
“I hope he’s here, for the sport, we just saw one of the legends leave the sport – Roger (Federer) – and that’s some shoes no one is ever going to fill,” Kyrgios said.
“So I think while Novak and Rafa (Nadal) are still around, we need these type of players to be at the Grand Slams.
“People of Australia, we love the Australian Open, Ash Barty brought us a crown, me and Thanasi have won it, we want to see the best players in the world there.
“Me being a competitor, I want to see Novak there.
“He is some of the reason I play, as a kid you want play the best players in the world in the best stadiums.
“Hopefully he is there, I know he’s had a rough run the last nine months, not being able to play here. Hopefully Australia welcomes him with open arms this time.”
Kyrgios will play exhibition tournaments in Mexico and Abu Dhabi to end this year, as well as the final doubles championship series with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
He will strongly consider putting himself forward for the newly created $23 million United Cup to be played across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney before the Australian Open next year.
“I like money, I assume the other players do too, that’s definitely an option for me, I’ll put myself in a position to play an event like that, a special event,” Kyrgios said.
“If my body is right, and it’s the right preparation, I’ll go ahead with it.”
Like in 2022, Kyrgios will only compete in select tournaments next year.
“I’m not going to play more, I just don’t want to sacrifice time at home, especially with the way my mum is progressing, and being here with my girlfriend now having a home in Sydney, I don’t want to give up time on the road,” he said.
“Five, six months on the road is enough for me.”
Having enjoyed his finest season on tour, the 27-year-old reflected: “I knew what I was capable of, I just wanted to change the narrative on the way I play tennis, and the way the tennis world saw me.
“And having the results I’ve had has been good, obviously a lot of opportunities have come from my results the last six months and I’ve earned it, I’ve worked hard, and I don’t have a coach, it’s all been driven by me.
“I’m definitely soaking it up with these pay cheques of these exhibitions and these options.”
NEW $23M TENNIS REVOLUTION TO LURE TOP STARS DOWN UNDER
- Scott Gullan
The world‘s best tennis players will compete for a $23 million prize pool in a new mixed teams event to be played across three Australian cities this summer.
Tennis Australia has created the United Cup which will feature mixed teams from 18 countries competing over 11 days in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney in the lead-up to the 2023 Australian Open.
The new global team event is a relaunch of the Perth-based Hopman Cup, which was axed in 2019 after 31 years, but with a lot more punch.
Each team will comprise up to four men and four women, competing in singles and mixed doubles matches, with the event to run from Thursday December 29 to Sunday January 8.
Importantly the United Cup is co-sanctioned by the ATP and WTA Tours with 500 rankings points up for grabs for the men and women.
The $23 million prize purse is also an important lure to get the best players out to Australia three weeks before the opening Grand Slam of the season.
Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will each host two groups of three countries who will compete in a round robin format with each tie comprising two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match.
The winners of each group will then play off to earn the title of “city winner” who then advance to the United Cup Final Four showdown in Sydney from January 6-8. A lucky loser from the group stages will also be added.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said the new team event presented a “unique opportunity” for the world‘s best.
“The United Cup presents a unique opportunity to unite both the men’s and women’s tour in a brand new way that has never been seen before,” Tiley said.
“We have the opportunity here in Australia to leverage tennis’ unique position to allow the world’s top men and women to compete side-by-side and represent their country at the highest level.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to see how this event unfolds in January across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.”
The first 12 countries will qualify for the United Cup via the six highest-ranked male and female players entered, based on their ATP and WTA Tour rankings.
The next six teams will qualify according to the best combined ranking of men’s and women’s players from the same country.
If Australia’s No.1 men’s and women’s player were to enter it would create the interesting scenario of Nick Kyrgios playing in the same team as ex-girlfriend Alja Tomljanovic after the pair dated back in 2017.
As Russian players are currently banned from playing for their nation due to world tennis sanctions stemming from the war in Ukraine, they will not be considered eligible for this team event.
“The United Cup is an important and strategic collaboration between the WTA, the ATP and Tennis Australia that reflects a continued commitment in elevating our sport,“ WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said.
“This exciting singles and mixed doubles team event will bring together emerging stars and established athletes from both Tours to compete on the same stage, giving players and fans a unique experience.”
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi added: “The United Cup marks a major step forward for the game of tennis.”
The United Cup draw will be held on Thursday November 10 to determine where the top 16 countries will play.
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