Tennis news | Novak Djokovic pulls out of World Tennis League match with Nick Kyrgios at the 11th hour
Tennis fans will have to wait a little longer to see Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic face each other for the first time since the Wimbledon final.
The Serbian pulled out of his World Tennis League match on Thursday at the 11th hour, citing fitness issues.
Fans packed into the Dubai arena only to be told by a courtside announcer that Djokovic wouldn’t be playing.
Watch Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek in the World Tennis League from December 20-25. Every match streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport
The match went ahead with Kyrgios facing Grigor Dimitrov instead, the Australian going down 7-3, 6-3 all told.
Djokovic had been courtside throughout the evening supporting his Falcons team.
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“Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately Novak Djokovic doesn’t feel 100 percent fit to play this evening,” the announcer said, reading a statement from the WTL.
“But, because he loves his fans and his team, he’s been here tonight as you’ve seen out on court.
“Now, the message from Novak to his fans in the stadium and across the globe is the greatest show on the court must go on.
“So he has asked his teammate Grigor Dimitrov to take the court right now. He’ll be playing singles formally. He’s ready to go.
“And of course, we wish Novak well as Nick Kyrgios hits the court. Novak will be back on court this [Saturday]. So please put your hands together and wish Novak well for the rest of today. We’ll see him back here on [Saturday].”
It came just a day after Djokovic lost to Alexander Zverev.
The match between Kyrgios and Djokovic was arguably the most highly-anticipated affair in the teams-based tournament.
It was to be the first meeting between them since Kyrgios’ fourth set loss at the hallowed London court.
Djokovic is expected to play on Saturday where he’ll face Felix Auger-Aliassime.
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