‘He is human’: Nick Kyrgios breaks silence on Novak Djokovic saga

Nick Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of Novak Djokovic in the past but now the controversial Aussie has spoken up to defend him.

Nick Kyrgios has tweeted about Novak's situation. Photo: Getty Images

Controversial Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios broke his silence on Novak Djokovic’s border ordeal on Friday afternoon, calling on Australia to “do better” in its handling of the situation.

Kyrgios, who has been an outspoken critic of Djokovic in the past, particularly regarding the World No. 1’s Adria Tour Covid debacle in 2020, appeared to come to the Serbian star’s defence.

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Having tweeted “I’ll give my opinions soon,” when asked for his view on the matter yesterday, Kyrgios called for Australia to treat Djokovic with more humanity.

“Look I definitely believe in taking action, I got vaccinated because of others and for my mum’s health, but how we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad,” he said.

“Like, these memes, headlines, this is one of our great champions but at the end of the day, he is human. Do better.”

Look I definitely believe in taking action, I got vaccinated because of others and for my mums health, but how we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad. Like these memes, headlines, this is one of our great champions but at the end of the day, he is human. Do better.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 7, 2022

The Djokovic saga has dominated the tennis world over the past few months after the Serbian star refused to reveal his vaccination status.

But an Instagram post in which he said he had received “exemption permission” quickly spiralled into an international incident as Djokovic’s visa was denied at the border.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed Djokovic didn’t have a medical exemption from vaccine requirements, and that he’d offered “insufficient” evidence that he deserved one.

Djokovic is now in a notorious hotel while he and his legal team fight for his chance to play for his 10th Australian Open and record 21st Grand Slam title.

This is despite a diplomatic furore emerging as the Serbian government rages over the decision, claiming Djokovic was “lured to travel to Australia in order to be humiliated”.

Djokovic has landed some unexpected support. Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Kyrgios changes his tune on Djokovic

Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of Djokovic and the other players who played in the ill-fated Adria Tour in 2020 where Croatia’s Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Viktor Troicki, as well as Djokovic and his family, tested positive for Covid after the players were seen partying and exercising no social distancing or regard for medical advice.

The World No. 1 initially expressed his regret but was widely slammed.

Kyrgios was one of the biggest names to blast the players for staging the tournament.

“Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE,” he said at the time.
After Djokovic apologised, Kyrgios replied: “Scary that people take zero ownership. Group of albatrosses.”

Then after tennis stars, including Djokovic complained about quarantining for the 2021 Australian Open, Kyrgios called the Serbian a “tool”.

But the Aussie star appeared to change his tune in recent months.

Kyrgios has changed his tune. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images for Laver Cup

Kyrgios said in November that he believed the Australian Open should be scrapped altogether.

“I don’t think the Aus Open should go ahead, just for the people in Melbourne – you’ve got to send a message,” Kyrgios said on his No Boundaries Podcast.

“How long did (Melbourne) do in lockdown? 275 days or something?”

But he added that it was “morally wrong” to force people like Djokovic to get vaccinated against Covid.

He compared Djokovic’s situation to the one being experienced by Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, who had been stood down by his team over a vaccination refusal which banned him from training or playing with the team within New York City limits.

“Kyrie, Novak … These guys have given so much, sacrificed so much. They are global athletes who millions of people look up to,” Kyrgios said.

“I just think it is so morally wrong to force someone to be vaccinated.

“I’m double vaccinated, but I just don’t think it’s right to force anyone (to be vaccinated) and say ‘you can’t come and play here because you’re not vaccinated’.

“There are other solutions around it, (such as) to get tested every day. In the States I know they’ve got rapid tests, and it’s coming to Australia. It’s 85 per cent success rate, you wait 15 minutes and then you’re allowed to play.”

And in late December, Kyrgios said it would be a “disaster” if Djokovic wasn’t in Melbourne after Roger Federer had pulled out and Rafael Nadal was in doubt.

Djokovic’s supporters gathered in front of the hotel. Photo by William WEST / AFP

Protesters have been out in force. Photo by William WEST / AFP

Nadal is in Australia however and had strong words for Djokovic.

“(It) is normal that the people here in Australia get very frustrated with the (Djokovic) case, because they have been going through a lot of very hard lockdowns and a lot of people were not able to come back home,” Nadal said.

“I believe in what the people who know about medicine say, and if the people say that we need to get vaccinated, we need to get vaccinated.

“I went through the Covid – I have been vaccinated twice – and if you do this, you don’t have any problem to play here … the world, in my opinion, has been suffering enough to not follow the rules.

“If he wanted, he will be playing here in Australia without a problem.

“He went through another (option, applying for an exemption). He makes his own decisions and everybody is free to make their own decision, but then there are some consequences, no?

“Of course, I don’t like the situation that is happening. In some way, I feel sorry for him, but at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision.”