Novak Djokovic has said that he 'doesn't have much respect' for Nick Kyrgios, as the spat around the Australian Open continues.
Kyrgios had called Djokovic a 'tool' for his comments during isolation for Tour players coming into the country for the tournament.
Djokovic had his own say on Kyrgios and his influence on the sport of tennis.
Kyrgios has never shied away from his dislike of the reigning Australian Open champion and continued his ire toward the Serb by quote tweeting a 7NEWS Melbourne report, labelling Djokovic "a tool".
Kyrgios reached the fourth round of the 2019 Australian Open before falling to Rafael Nadal in four sets.
The 25-year-old last played competitively in February at the Mexican Open before tennis was put on hiatus due to the global spread of COVID-19. Djokovic won last year's final in Melbourne, overcoming Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller.
Djokovic on Nick Kyrgios
“I’ve said this before. I think he’s good for the sport," Djokovic said.
“Obviously he’s someone that is different. He goes about his tennis, he goes about his off-court things in his own authentic way.
“I have respect for him. I have respect for everyone else really because everyone has a right and freedom to choose how they want to express themselves, what they want to do.
“My respect goes to him for the tennis he’s playing. He’s a very talented guy. He’s got a big game."
He might be known for his backhand, but he is also doing a mean line in backhanded compliments.
“He has proven that he has a quality to beat any player really in the world in the past.
“Off the court, I don’t have much respect for him, to be honest.
“That’s where I’ll close it. I really don’t have any further comments for him, his own comments for me or anything else he’s trying to do.”
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