Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios gave Australian Open fans a pre-tournament treat on Friday in Melbourne, as 15,000 packed into Rod Laver Arena for their “arena showdown”.
And the nine-time Australian Open champion turned to a member of the crowd for some advice to help him in the second set before “firing” coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Djokovic walked to the baseline and asked a spectator for some help, then pretending to fire Ivanisevic in the middle of the match.
“Yeah, I lost my job in front of 15,000 people,” Ivanisevic joked the Croat said when asked about the incident.
The charity match went to a match tiebreak where wheelchair stars David Wagner and Heath Davidson joined the two men on court and turned the clash into a doubles match.
And they were later subbed out by two youngsers as Kyrgios and his partner saved three match points to win 4-2, 2-4, 10-9.
“It just feels great to be back in Australia, back in Melbourne,” Djokovic said.
American outsider Ann Li produced the upset of her life on Wednesday, taking 10 match points…
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the…
John McEnroe has used a trip to Spain to come down hard on modern player…
Carlos Alcaraz will headline the field as the Australian Open stages its 1-Point Slam for…
Novak Djokovic is wisely choosing not to tempt fate, with the China Open winner withdrawing…
Novak Djokovic retained his magic touch at the China Open, winning his seventh title without…