Novak Djokovic’s camp have finally responded to Nick Kyrgios’ criticism.
Earlier this year the Australian blasted Djokovic as “cringeworthy” and having a “sick obsession” with wanting to be liked as much as Roger Federer.
The world No 1 has refused to get involved in a war of words with Kyrgios but his coach Goran Ivanisevic has now responded.
“It’s bad because I don’t think Novak did anything wrong to him,” Ivanisevic told the Telegraph.
“He decides to pick on Novak for no reason.
“You can come on the court and do whatever you want, but you need to respect your opponent.
“He speaks a lot about Novak, only he knows the reason. But he should just take care of himself because he should be in the top five, he could win a Grand Slam.
“He’s never going to win a Grand Slam with the approach he has now.
“If he could change it that would be great for him and for tennis.”
Kyrgios started a feud with Djokovic when he went on the No Challenges Remaining podcast prior to the French Open.
“I just feel like he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked. He just wants to be like Roger (Federer),” the world No 27 said of Djokovic.
“For me personally – I don’t care right now, I’ve come this far – I feel like he just wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him.
“This whole celebration thing (blowing kisses to the crowd) that he does after matches, it’s like so cringeworthy. It’s very cringeworthy.
“He’s an unbelievable player, he’s a champion of the sport; one of the greatest we’ll ever see. He probably will, honestly, I reckon he will get the Grand Slam count, I reckon he will overpass Federer.
“(But) we’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year because it was too hot. No matter how many grand slams he wins, he will never be the greatest for me.
“Simply because, I’ve played him twice and like, I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest of all time.
“Because if you like look at my day-to-day routine and how much I train and how much I put in, it’s zero compared to him.”
