Novak Djokovic says he has little respect for Nick Kyrgios

The number one tennis player has targeted Nick Kyrgios in Australia for his out-of-court antics.

While the 25-year-old can hold his own against some of the best players in the world, headlines are known to have been lured for the wrong reasons.

Novak Djokovic believes that Kyrgios’ behavior when not playing causes people to lose respect for him.

Speaking ahead of the Australian Open, which starts today (February 8), Novak said: “I think it’s great for the sport. It’s definitely someone who is different. He goes around his tennis, he goes around his own things outside the court, a real way.

“I really respect him. I really respect everyone else because everyone has the right and freedom to choose how they want to express themselves, what they want to do. My respect goes to him for the tennis he plays.

“I think he’s very talented. He has a great game. He’s proven to have the quality to beat any player in the world in the past.

“Off the court, I have little respect for him, to be honest. That’s where I close him. I have no other opinions for him, his opinions for me or anything else he’s trying to do. “

This comes after Kyrgios defeated number one in the world for releasing a list of requests while in a hotel quarantine.

The Serbian star demanded that fitness and training materials be provided to all players’ rooms, proper food for elite athletes, reduced loneliness days, permission to visit a coach or physical trainer, to be the same floor with these people and some move players to private houses with tennis courts.

The list of requests went down as a main balloon and Kyrgios called Djokovic as a ‘tool’ for asking for such things. The 25-year-old Australian was also protesting claims that Novak could become a tennis GOAT.

He recently posted comments he made on the 2019 No Challenges Remaining podcast to his social media.

Kyrgios said at the time: “No matter how many grand slams he wins, it will never be bigger for me.

“Just because I’ve played it twice and, I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the biggest ever.”