Nick Kyrgios is joining Novak Djokovic's Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) ahead of the 2023 Wimbledon.
Kyrgios and Djokovic have a bit of history which stems from the Australian bashing Djokovic during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ill-fated Adria Tour was supposed to bring back tennis during the pandemic with multiple Stars such as Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Novak Djokovic taking part.
The 5-city Tour was abandoned in the middle of it due to a lack of pandemic measures which resulted in several players testing positive for the virus. Promises of social distancing measures weren't enforced as the first exhibition in Belgrade featured packed stands. Dimitrov and Coric tested positive not long after that with Djokovic himself testing positive a few days after them.
Kyrgios was a very vocal critic on social media blasting the Serbian for organizing such an event at the height of the pandemic. The relationship remained chilly until Djokovic's Australian Open deportation saga during which Kyrgios was one of the rare players to speak up for the Serbian. It was something Djokovic never forgot as he thanked him personally for sticking up for him.
Since then their relationship blossomed into something of a 'bromance' which only grew stronger after their Wimbledon final last year. Now, it seems like Kyrgios likes what Djokovic is trying to do with the PTPA as well as he became the latest player to join the initiative. The organisation has players from both the ATP and WTA with the hope of becoming a sort of union for tennis players.
Kyrgios himself announced it on social media by posting a photo of himself during an event organised by the initiative in London praising them for their efforts. They also hosted an event in Paris recently which was attended by all the prominent players that have backed it in the past such as John Isner, Hubert Hurkacz, Ons Jabeur, and Paula Badosa.
Super excited to be a part of the @ptpaplayers - amazing initiative. ANY players that have any questions please feel free to reach out… it’s time.
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