Nick Kyrgios has final chuckle as Djokovic conflict sells out stadium in minutes

Nick Kyrgios took a cheeky dig at his critics after tickets for Friday’s observe match with Serb Novak Djokovic bought out in 58 minutes, proving the Australian’s enormous field workplace draw.

Kyrgios had pulled out of the United Cup with an damage simply minutes earlier than his pre-tournament press convention, drawing the ire of Australian co-captain Lleyton Hewitt, his group mates and the media.

The 27-year-old has not performed since October and an ankle damage pressured him to skip warm-up tournaments in Adelaide as properly, earlier than Djokovic provided to play him in a observe match that might be performed at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

Wow Nick Kyrgios is unhealthy for the game! Wow what a shame, a nationwide embarrassment! How dare he promote out one other stadium, the vanity https://t.co/Sn37U2nAjv

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 10, 2023

“Wow Nick Kyrgios is bad for the sport! Wow what a disgrace, a national embarrassment! How dare he sell out another stadium, the arrogance,” Kyrgios mentioned in a sarcastic tweet on Tuesday.

Former American participant Noah Rubin questioned the timing of the exhibition match simply earlier than a Grand Slam to which Kyrgios responded: “Well to be fair it will bring more crowd than any of your matches.”

Tickets for the match, a repeat of final yr’s Wimbledon closing, had been priced at A$20 ($14) every with the proceeds going to the Australian Tennis Foundation.