Nick Kyrgios sends his support to Novak Djokovic amidst criticism over 'appalling' gesture after Rafael Nadal win at Paris Olympics
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic faced each other for the 60th time during the second round of men's singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Djokovic stormed past Nadal with scores of 6-1, 6-4 to knock the Spaniard out of the singles competition. After winning the match, an animated Djokovic pointed his ear to the crowd, receiving a mixed reaction from the audience in Paris.
Tennis fans on social media were divided in their opinions about Djokovic's gesture, with some fans criticizing the Serb's act. Australian player Nick Kyrgios, well known for his outspoken nature, joined the frenzy with a strong reply in the Serb's favor when a fan criticized Djokovic's gesture on X (formerly Twitter).
Kyrgios responded to the above tweet and wrote:
"I do"
Djokovic will next face Dominik Koepfer in the third round of the men's singles at the Paris Olympics.
Nick Kyrgios, on the other hand, has been struggling with injuries. The Australian played his last competitive match in June 2023. His ranking has slipped outside the top 100 following his withdrawal from multiple tournaments.
"Glad our epic rivalry is still a blockbuster" - Novak Djokovic comments on his epic rivalry with Rafael Nadal post their Olympic encounter
Djokovic and Nadal share 46 Grand Slams between them. The two stars have dominated the sport for several years and have faced each other on the court on 60 occasions. However, their encounter in the Paris Olympics was only the second time the two stars faced off at the Games. With this win, the Serb currently leads his head-to-head with Nadal 31-29.
Djokovic posted a picture with Nadal on Instagram after their Olympics faceoff.
"Glad our epic rivalry is still a blockbuster, @rafaelnadal. Good Luck in the doubles. Idemooo Srbjio," Djokovic wrote.
Nadal is nicknamed the 'King of Clay' and holds a record 14 French Open victories. The Spaniard has defeated Djokovic on the Parisian surface eight times, with his recent loss marking his 3rd loss against the Serb on clay.
Nadal will now be competing in the men's doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz at the Olympics. The two tennis titans, nicknamed 'Nadalcaraz' by fans, now gear up to face the Dutch doubles pair of Wesley Koolhof and Tallon Griekspoor in the second round of men's doubles.