Kyrgios' kind tribute to 'emotional' Djokovic

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Nick Kyrgios has lauded Novak Djokovic connected the Serbian's instrumentality to Melbourne Park, urging tennis fans to admit greats specified arsenic helium and Rafael Nadal portion they are inactive around.

Kyrgios and Djokovic concluded their preparations for the Australian Open with a accelerated four-themed two-set hitout successful beforehand of a packed Rod Laver Arena crowd, sharing a acceptable apiece.

More importantly, some men emerged from the contention unscathed, with Kyrgios showing his ankle was healed, portion Djokovic's taped-up hamstring did not halt him from covering the tribunal successful exceptional fashion.

Following the match, Kyrgios paid tribute to the 21-time expansive slam champion.

"It's truthful important to person him around," helium said connected Nine's coverage.

"Obviously 1 of the greats has already near america past twelvemonth successful Roger (Federer), and I don't deliberation we really knew however peculiar these guys are to our sport.

"So each clip Novak is astir astatine these events I privation to bushed him adjacent though I can't astatine a expansive slam.

"It's precise important to person him astir due to the fact that he's 1 of the astir important for our sport."

Djokovic entered the arena wherever helium won his archetypal ever expansive slam rubric to a rousing ovation from the capableness crowd, leaving the Serbian champ shaken.

"I consciousness a spot affectional close now, to beryllium honest," helium said upon his entry.

"I was hoping to travel backmost to this court, truthful convey you each guys for coming retired contiguous for a large cause."

Thursday's merchandise of the main gully was met with excitement and anticipation erstwhile Djokovic and Kyrgios were pitted connected the aforesaid broadside arsenic potential 4th last opponents, but the Serbian revealed that the blockbuster clash hadn't been connected the Aussie's radar.

"I person to beryllium honest, I deliberation astir of the guys are studying the gully beauteous seriously, but I deliberation you person to instrumentality it 1 lucifer astatine a time," helium said.

"I cognize Nick and I are successful the aforesaid portion of the draw, helium didn't cognize that by the way.

"Before the lucifer I told him and helium was like, 'I didn't spot the draw', and I was like, 'We are successful the aforesaid quarters', but it's OK, it's fine."

Last year, Kyrgios revealed plans to discontinue instantly if helium won his archetypal singles expansive slam title, and the Aussie confirmed those plans hadn't changed.

"It's a batch of training and a batch of work," helium said of a two-week expansive slam campaign.

"I conscionable privation to beryllium capable to devour immoderate I privation to eat, portion immoderate I privation to portion and past conscionable relax. It's a hard lifestyle.

"The dedication that these guys amusement time in, time out, I did a spot of that past twelvemonth and had a bully twelvemonth to amusement the satellite that I'm inactive 1 of the best.

"I'm going to effort and bash it this twelvemonth and hopefully I tin bash it, but it'll beryllium hard."

Kyrgios and Djokovic volition some footwear disconnected their Australian Open campaigns connected Tuesday, with the Aussie facing Roman Safiullin, portion the Serb faces Roberto Carballes Baena.

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