© Getty Images Sport – Kelly Defina
Nick Kyrgios thinks the best thing a Novak Djokovic opponent at the Australian Open could do is to book the cheapest flight on time.
Kyrgios, who is not competing at this year’s Australian Open due to his ongoing wrist injury, is currently at Melbourne Park as he will still have duties to fulfill during the upcoming fortnight. In Melbourne, Kyrgios will be working as an analyst for Eurosport but also conducting interviews for “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios” – a podcast series he launched in collaboration with Naomi Osaka’s production Hana Kuma.
Ahead of the start of the Australian Open, Kyrgios also appeared in a video for the Australian Open’s channel. In a video posted on the tournament’s X account, Kyrgios is giving his opinion on the Australian Open draw.
Djokovic, a record 10-time Australian Open champion, is kicking off his Australian Open run by playing against qualifier world No, 178 Dino Prizmic. Going into this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic is again widely regarded as the No. 1 favorite for the title at Melbourne Park.
When asked what one needs to do to try to beat Djokovic, Kyrgios said: “You just book your flight home on the best price… Yeah, book your flight home,” Kyrgios said.
Oh boy… Grab the popcorn! 🍿@NickKyrgios is taking us through the #AO2024 draw 👀 pic.twitter.com/J4qmBMojyf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
Kyrgios backs Djokovic for another strong Australian Open run
Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, kicked off his 2024 season at the United Cup, where he won his opening two singles matches before losing to Alex de Minaur during Serbia’s quarterfinal match against Serbia. Against de Minaur, Djokovic was hampered by a wrist injury and he received a medical intervention on the court.
After the match, Djokovic did not want to put too much focus on his injury or speak about it as a potential danger, shrugging off any concerns by saying he would be fine for the Australian Open. This week, a positive Djokovic update dropped after it was reported that the Serb practiced at Melbourne Park without evident signs of pain or discomfort.
In the past, Djokovic twice won the Australian Open while dealing with an injury. Most recently, that happened 12 months ago, when Djokovic won the title in Melbourne despite being hampered by a hamstring tear.
