Novak needs to be playing at all costs: Kyrgios
Novak Djokovic was deported from Australian Open last year
After Novak Djokovic's non-immunization status precluded him from competing in two Grand Slam events in 2022, including the Australian Open, Nick Kyrgios has urged the Serbian tennis player to play "at all costs."
Djokovic was deported just before the competition.
Now that Djokovic is permitted to return to Australia for the first Major of 2023, Kyrgios asserted that competitions didn't feel legitimate without the top-ranked player in the world.
"I think Novak needs to be playing at all costs," Kygios said during the World Tennis League in Dubai.
The men's singles match on Wednesday was supposed to put Kyrgios against Djokovic, but the 35-year-old abruptly withdrew because he wasn't "feeling 100 percent."
"He's one of the greatest of all time and as long as he's going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments. I think, as a competitor, I want to see him there. And if I win a tournament, if you don't go through Novak, then you kind of know the tournament isn't really a tournament," the Australian added.
The Australian Open will kick off on January 17.
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