Wimbledon final: The burgeoning bromance between Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has been called many things but perhaps none more ascerbic than the labels Nick Kyrgios has bestowed him over the years. But all that’s changed.

The bromance between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios faces its sternest test – a grand slam final.

Nick Kyrgios has never had much time for Novak Djokovic.

Truth be told, the call-it-as-he-sees-it Aussie couldn’t stand a bar of him.

At the same time when Kyrgios was being relentlessly bagged by everyone for wasting his God-given talents and offending anyone that crossed his path, Djokovic was just racking up titles and prizemoney.

Before long, he was on the shortlist of names for the Greatest of All Time – which got right up Kyrgios’ goat.

Whether it was driven by jealousy or frustration at not fulfilling his own talent, Kyrgios couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the Serbian tennis ace.

The bromance between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios faces its sternest test – a grand slam final.

In a bitter and unprovoked rant, he laid into Djokovic, saying he would never be the best because no-one respected him the same way as Roger Federer.

“No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest for me,” Kyrgios said.

“Simply because, I’ve played him twice and I’m sorry but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest of all time.”

Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

It was a caustic comment designed to hurt but Kyrgios didn’t stop there.

He also took aim at the Serb’s signature gesture after he wins tournaments – where he mimics throwing his heart out to the crowd – which Kyrgios implied was shallow because he wasn’t being true to himself.

“I just feel like he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked,” Kyrgios said.

“He just wants to be like Roger … I just can’t stand him.

“This whole thing that he does after matches, it’s so cringe-worthy. It’s very cringe-worthy.”

Djokovic’s response was more diplomatic but the message was just as blunt; he couldn’t care less what the Australian thought because he was the one with a chip on his shoulder.

“I don’t know why Kyrgios says all these things. Whether he is seeking attention or has some other motive, he obviously wants to be sincere and transparent. It’s the way he is,” Djokovic said.

Kyrgios and Djokovic have met twice before — both won by the Aussie. Picture: LatinContent/Getty Images

“I respect all other players on tour. Does he show me the same amount of respect that most other players do? No, he doesn’t, but that’s the way he communicates these days.

“Before he unleashed this wave of criticisms against me, I actually met him off court during a US Open tournament, five years ago I think, and talked to him a bit.

“It was at a time when everyone was on his case because of his antics.

“I offered help in the sense that I told him he could always come and talk to me if he needed to, because I faced similar situations and the same kind of criticism for my behaviour when I was younger.

Kyrgios is through to his first grand slam final. Picture: Getty Images

“But something changed inside him from that point on. I’d never had that kind of problem with anyone else on tour but I am not losing any sleep over it.”

Kyrgios continued his attacks on Djokovic during the Covid pandemic, calling him “boneheaded” and “stupid” for organising a party in Serbia where he and other player contracted the coronavirus.

Djokovic has been there plenty of times. Picture: Getty Images

Then he labelled Djokovic a “tool” for demanding special treatment for players at the 2021 Australian Open – when the public were being locked indoors.

Then suddenly everything changed when Djokovic arrived in Melbourne to play this year’s Australian Open – only to be detained then eventually deported for his refusal to get vaccinated.

Scorned the world over, Djokovic was an easy target but instead of kicking him while he was down, Kyrgios sprung to his defence, as one few player who spoke up for him.

He saw a kindred spirit and so did Djokovic.

Not only have they ended their feud, they’ve become friends, even gushing about the new-found respect they have for each other gushing ahead of their Wimbledon final.

“We definitely have a bit of a bromance now, which is weird,” Kyrgios said.

“I think everyone knows there was no love lost for a while there. I think it was healthy for the sport. I think every time we played each other, there was hype around it. It was interesting for the media, the people watching, all that.

“I felt like I was almost the only kind of player and someone to stand up for him with all that kind of drama at the Australian Open. I feel like that’s where respect is kind of earned. Not on the tennis court, but I feel like when a real life crisis is happening and someone stands up for you.

Novak put the dinner bet on the table...

...before Kyrgios uppted the ante.

“We actually message each other on DMs in Instagram now and stuff. It’s real weird. Actually, earlier in the week, he was like, ‘hopefully I’ll see you Sunday.’”

Djokovic has also changed his tune, saying: “I don’t know if I can call it a bromance yet, but we definitely have a better relationship than what it was probably prior to January this year.

“When it was really tough for me in Australia, he was one of the very few players that came out publicly and supported me and stood by me.

“That’s something I truly appreciate. So I respect him for that a lot.”

Originally published as Wimbledon final: The burgeoning bromance between Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic