Tennis Needs Djokovic at the Australian Open: Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios of Australia shakes hands at the net after his straight set victory against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their fourth round match during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., on March 15, 2017. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios once said he could not stand Novak Djokovic, describing him as “a tool.”

Yet, he has now become one of his old foe’s most unlikely and sympathetic backers, declaring that Djokovic hasn’t been treated humanely and that tennis really needs its world No.1 back at the Australian Open.