Novak's sneaky snub to mess with Kyrgios' head

Todd Woodbridge says Novak Djokovic is relishing "getting into" Nick Kyrgios' caput with immoderate sneaky caput games earlier adjacent week's Australian Open successful Melbourne.

Tennis large Woodbridge spoke to Nine's Today about his exclusive interrogation with Djokovic and revealed that the Serbian superstar did not notation Kyrgios amongst his biggest rivals for the expansive slam tournament.

"I asked him astir who helium thinks the contenders are, and helium went done (Rafael) Nadal and (Jannik) Sinner and (Casper) Ruud and I said 'no Kyrgios?'

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Novak Djokovic speaks to Nine. (Nine)

"He conscionable smiled and said 'of people there's Nick Kyrgios.'

"Then helium moved connected and helium said 'I anticipation he's ready, helium hasn't had a large preparation.'

"And helium laid a fewer things retired for Nick to deliberation about. He likes getting into his head."

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Nick Kyrgios of Australia. (Getty)

Djokovic volition play Kyrgios successful a blockbuster accumulation lucifer connected Rod Laver Arena connected Friday nighttime and Woodbridge said determination were nary concerns implicit the former's hamstring.

Djokovic played conscionable 1 acceptable against Daniil Medvedev successful a signifier lucifer connected Wednesday but Woodbridge called his withdrawal purely "precautionary."

"From what helium said to me, he's bully to go," the doubles fable said.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia receives attraction during a signifier lucifer against Daniil Medvedev of Russia. (Getty)

Woodbridge added that helium expected the Australian Open fans to beryllium mostly supportive of Djokovic, who was sensationally deported earlier past year's tourney due to the fact that helium wasn't vaccinated against COVID-19.

"There volition beryllium immoderate outliers that are going to effort to marque a sanction for themselves but they're not truly welcome," Woodbridge said.

"Everybody other wants to spot him play his champion tennis. He's playing superb.

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"He has a constituent to beryllium successful the consciousness that helium is chasing down Rafa (for astir expansive slam titles). Because helium didn't get down present past year, Rafa won the tournament, got successful beforehand of him. He pulled it backmost astatine Wimbledon (by beating Kyrgios successful the final).

"That's what this is about. Nadal is precise overmuch successful his mind."

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