Kyrgios-Djokovic go from hate to mate in time for AO

The long-running social media spat between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios appears to be at a lull, with the pair set to train together next week in what is shaping up as a stunt designed to hype the Australian Open.

The pair have been taking pot shots at each other online for months, with the continual war of words somehow evolving into something of a tennis bromance.

Djokovic explained the current state of affairs with the volatile Australian on Thursday after reaching the quarter-finals in Adelaide.

“I wasn’t his favorite guy – let’s put it that way – for many years,” the Serb said. “But he was one of the very few that stood by me last year (during tournament bans for not getting COVID-vaxxed).

“I respect and appreciate that. You can actually see who truly supports you and who is by your side and who goes with the flow of society and pressures the media puts on you.”

Djokovic said Australia’s Wimbledon finalist “was giving me undivided support in the moments where I was being challenged a lot,

“Since then, our relationship has changed for the better.”

Djokovic and Kyrgios – who looks like going into the January 16 start of the Open without a Tour tune-up match – are due to practice together at the Rod Laver arena in a paid-ticket 45-minute session complete with a chair umpire, ballkids and a score.

The madcap idea is another which has emerged from the Tennis Australia brainstrust as the Grand Slams tries to recoup some of the millions of dollars it lost during the past two COVID-era editions.

“Most most of us need matches and as many points that we can play prior to the Australian Open,” Djokovic said.

“I’m happy if that will be organised (though) we’ve not had 100 per cent confirmation,”