Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic will rekindle their bromance after they full their Australian Open preparations with a ticketed exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena.
The pair as soon as had a testy relationship however that thawed after Kyrgios was one in every of Djokovic’s staunchest supporters throughout final yr’s deportation saga and have become shut throughout their runs to final yr’s Wimbledon ultimate.
In Friday evening’s ‘Perfect Practice’, Kyrgios and Djokovic will play for 75 minutes underneath match circumstances, with umpires, ballkids and digital line-calling.
Tennis Australia (TA) is charging $20 for tickets, with proceeds going in direction of the Australian Tennis Foundation.
TA has delivered high-profile observe matches as a part of this yr’s determination to cost adults $10 and youngsters $5 to attend qualifying, which had beforehand been free entry.
Kyrgios pulled out of the United Cup and Adelaide International 2 resulting from an ankle damage and it has clouded his lead-up to the Open.
“Nick is focused on doing the best he can,” event director Craig Tiley informed reporters.
“He wants to win grand slams, so he’s giving himself the best opportunity to prepare and Friday night will be a really good practice match for him, as it will be for Novak.
“That’s going to be a fun night to really launch the beginning of the year and he’ll be ready.”
Tiley was assured Djokovic, who will play Daniil Medvedev in one other observe match on Wednesday, would obtain an excellent reception in Melbourne, saying followers “appreciate greatness”.
“I’m pretty confident that the fans of Melbourne, similar to the experience that he had in Adelaide, will be just as good,” he stated.
