Novak Djokovic on Wednesday shrugged off Nick Kyrgios’s characterisation of him as “cringeworthy” and “having an obsession with wanting to be liked” by insisting the firebrand Australian is a “good guy”.
Kyrgios, more often in the headlines for what he says off the court than what he achieves on it, described world number one Djokovic as desperate to be held in the same high esteem as Roger Federer.
“I feel he wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him. This celebration thing [Djokovic’s ‘cup of love’ gesture to the crowd] is so cringeworthy,” Kyrgios told NCR Tennis Podcast.
“No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me.
“For me, Federer will always be the greatest of all time.”
Djokovic, however, said Kyrgios’s remarks “don’t keep him awake at night”.
“I think that basically he is a good guy. I don’t know why he said all those things. Does he want to attract attention, does he want to be different?,” Djokovic told reporters in Belgrade ahead of defending his Wimbledon title next month.
“He wants apparently to be true, open, transparent, that is part of his character.
“I respect him. Does he show me respect to the extent that others do? No, he does not. That’s just his way of communicating.”
Djokovic admitted that he had offered to help Kyrgios deal with fame and its various pitfalls.
“Five years ago I even offered him sort of help, in the sense that he could come to me if he needs anything, since at the beginning of my career I also experienced criticism against me.
“I was trying to respect everyone in life. I really don’t understand his reasons, but I respect him.”
Four-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic hasn’t played since a controversial five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
“Because of the very long clay-court season I decided to take a break before Wimbledon,” the 15-time Grand Slam winner said after his practice session on Wednesday.
“I’m going to need to get used to the grass, and I have a couple of exhibition games lined up. Just two or three sets each so I can test my tactics and technique.”
Djokovic, 32, was training with his friend and compatriot Viktor Troicki at an academy owned by former player Janko Tipsarevic and where Djokovic’s five-year-old son Stefan was also knocking a tennis ball around.