Australian Open frontrunner Novak Djokovic has appeared back on court after an injury scare earlier this week, facing Nick Kyrgios for the Australian favourite’s first serious hit-up before the tournament starts on Monday.
Crowds filed into the sold-out exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night to get an early reading of the pair, who last played against each other when Djokovic triumphed in the Wimbledon men’s final.
Nick Kyrgios in action against Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park on Friday night in the practice match ahead of the Australian Open.Credit:Getty Images
“I feel a bit emotional right now to be honest, and I was really looking forward to coming back to this court,” Djokovic told the crowd on Friday night after receiving a loud reception from arena.
Both players emerged making cheeky jibes at the other, with Djokovic telling the crowd he was going to level his playing history with Kyrgios, while Kyrgios said he wanted to pay Djokovic back for Wimbledon. “I haven’t slept since,” he joked.
Injury concerns have hung over both, with Djokovic unable to complete a practice match on Wednesday afternoon against Daniil Medvedev due to a left hamstring problem. His leg had tape on it on Friday night, but he didn’t offer any insight into the injury when asked.
Kyrgios has also been recovering from an earlier injury scare, with an ankle problem leading him to withdraw from the United Cup, and he also pulled out from the Adelaide International last week.
His manager Daniel Horsfall later quelled any doubts that Kyrgios would play in the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic gestures during the exhibition match.Credit:AP
Among the crowd on Friday night was Melburnian Lisa Wells, who expected the players would appear to have fun during the practice match but be sending a message about their chances to win the tournament. “They’ll both be very much wanting to win,” she said.
Sergej Saric, from Melbourne and whose family is Serbian, said he wanted to see Djokovic take his 10th Australian Open grand slam title. “If he gets it, it’ll be a remarkable moment – not just for him, but for all of us living here as Serbians,” Saric said.
Novak Djokovic.Credit:Getty Images
Fan Rod Thomas said he hoped to see Djokovic and Kyrgios clash again in the quarter-finals. “I think there’s every likelihood they will meet again,” he said.
Kyrgios, whose first on-court appearance at this year’s Australian Open on Friday overlapped with the release of a behind-the-scenes look at his time at last year’s tournament in a Netflix Break Point episode, is ranked No. 21 in the world.
The Australian is due to open his campaign against Russian world No.99 Roman Safiullin. In the second round, he faces either Richard Gasquet or Ugo Humbert.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is due to play Spanish world No.75 Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round. Djokovic was denied the chance to play last year because of a vaccination saga.
After leaving the practice match following just one set on Wednesday, Djokovic said the pain in his hamstring was the same niggle that had affected him during the Adelaide Open. He had called a medical time-out in the semi-final against Medvedev.
“I didn’t want to risk anything worse. Played a set and apologised [to Daniil],” he said earlier this week. “I wanted to avoid any bigger scares before [the] Australian Open.”
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