Nick Kyrgios makes Novak Djokovic Australian Open plea as Serb waits on ban verdict | Tennis | Sport
Nick Kyrgios has issued a plea to Australians to welcome Novak Djokovic back with “welcome arms” as the world No 7 waits to learn whether he will be allowed to return to the country for January’s Australian Open. Djokovic was deported at the start of this year and received an automatic three-year ban as a result.
Djokovic hit headlines when he had his visa cancelled twice after arriving in Melbourne unvaccinated at the start of this year. He was ultimately deported after spending time in and out of a government detention hotel, which carries an automatic three-year ban on returning to the country.
At the time, Kyrgios was one of the few players who spoke out in defence of the 21-time Grand Slam champion, and he has once again shown his support for Djokovic as he asked Australians to welcome him back with “open arms” if he is able to return. “I hope he is here, for the sport,” the world No 20 said, per WAtoday.
Looking to Roger Federer’s recent retirement, the 27-year-old said players like Djokovic and Rafael Nadal needed to be appreciated while they were still around. He continued: “We just saw one of the legends leave the sport, Roger, and that’s going to be some shoes that no one is ever going to be able to fill
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“Of course, you want to have those guys there. He’s some of the reason why I play. As a kid, you want to play the best players in the world in the best stadiums. Hopefully, he is there.”
Kyrgios also looked to Djokovic’s recent struggles with the US Open, as the 35-year-old was also left unable to play the second hard-court Major of 2022 because of his vaccine status once again, with unvaccinated foreign nationals unable to enter America. The Aussie added: “He’s had a rough run the last nine months and not being able to play here, play here, not being able to play here, hopefully, Australia welcomes him with open arms this time.”
