Novak Djokovic says Nick Kyrgios has the game to return to the world’s top 10 if he applied greater discipline, while also expressing hope the Australian can overcome ongoing injury problems. Kyrgios has battled health issues since 2023 and underwent knee and wrist surgery, the latter described as a “full reconstruction” of the wrist. He withdrew from the entire 2024 season to prioritise rest, returned at Brisbane in January and has played just five matches in the nine months since.

“I’d really love for him to come back, because he’s been through so much with injuries,” commented Djokovic, whilst speaking to Serbian media at the US Open. “He means a lot to our sport. As controversial and different as he is, people love it – he draws the crowds.

“I saw him talking with Bublik about playing a match against (Aryna) Sabalenka, a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ like Billie Jean King back in the day.

“That would be very interesting if it happens. I hope he can finish his career on the court. It would be a shame if injuries prevented him from playing at least a few more big tournaments.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t have the discipline that was required, but if he had 30 percent – and he has five percent – he’d be Top 10 easily.

“He played a Wimbledon final without warm-up, without serious training, without a coach, and beat all of us at the top.”

The pair have had a turbulent history. Kyrgios called Djokovic a ‘tool’ after Djokovic advocated easing COVID-19 restrictions at the 2021 Australian Open, and Kyrgios had beaten Djokovic in both meetings that preceded that controversy. The most recent meeting came in the 2022 Wimbledon final, where Djokovic won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) to take their head-to-head to 2-1.

“He has so much talent and potential, he could have done incredible things, but neglecting his body brought him where he is,” the Serb added. “As a friend, I really like him and hope he comes back – to play that match with Sabalenka and at least his Australian Open, because he deserves that.

“It’s not an easy situation for a tennis player – you don’t know, you’re neither here nor there, unofficially retired but still trying.

“I wish him all the best, and maybe a little less drinking and sending those videos.”

The relationship appears to have warmed: they teamed up in Brisbane this year in the men’s doubles and were knocked out in the second round. Djokovic also joked about Kyrgios’s habit of sending clips. “He sent me a video once, he loves sending me clips from nightclubs, bars – I didn’t even reply to the last one,” joked the tennis legend. “He always says: ‘Why do I keep running into Serbs everywhere in the world?’

“He’ll go to a party, bump into one of ours, they’ll say: ‘Nick, you Serb!’ Then they hug, drink, and he sends me the videos.”

Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka have been added to Team World’s roster for the Laver Cup in San Francisco, taking the places of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul for the September 19-21 event. The No. 6 and No. 14-ranked Americans were both forced to withdraw from the team competition with injuries that have also ruled them out of their nation’s Davis Cup second-round qualifier against Czechia next week in Delray Beach, Fla.

Michelsen is one of four newcomers set to debut at this year’s event, joining teammate Joao Fonseca among the fresh faces on Team World. The 21-year-old from Aliso Viejo, Calif., broke into the Top 30 for the first time in July. His 2025 season includes a run to the round of 16 at the Australian Open, a pair of Top 20 wins and a quarterfinal showing in Toronto.

Opelka returns to the Laver Cup scene seeking his first win at the event, four years after making his debut in Boston. The 6’11” Michigan native has experienced a notable comeback after being sidelined for nearly two years with wrist and hip injuries. He returned to competition in July 2024 and began 2025 ranked No. 293. Since that reset he has climbed back inside the Top 70 on the strength of 23 tour-level wins.

Team Europe reclaimed the Laver Cup last year in Berlin, denying Team World a three-peat and sending captain Bjorn Borg off on a high note. For this edition, Yannick Noah was named as Borg’s successor, with Andre Agassi taking over for John McEnroe.

The late-season team competition will feature the revised Team World lineup as players prepare for the city showdown in San Francisco September 19-21.

Dominic Thiem has described his two French Open finals against Rafael Nadal as deeply unsettling, saying he recognised he would not win those matches. The Austrian, who retired at the ATP 500 event in Austria in 2024 after more than three years of wrist pain, reached a career-high ranking of world No 3 and won his sole Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open, beating Alexander Zverev.

Thiem recalled how confronting Nadal at Roland Garros created a weighty atmosphere. “If you are an opponent against Rafa in the French Open final, like the tournament doesn’t make it easy,” he said. “You go on the centre court, you do the warm-up before the match, and then the speaker is introducing you. He says, yeah, like 9 ATP titles, and the crowd is applauding.

“And then he starts to introduce Rafa. Winner of the French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008… and the crowd is going crazy.

“Then starts 10, 11, 12, 13. And you’ve already lost the match. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced.”

Thiem first reached the French Open final in 2018 after surrendering only three sets en route, having beaten second seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals and Nadal in straight sets at the Madrid Open four weeks before. He admitted the final was affected by his condition on the day. “First of all, I was happy to be in the final, then I was physically not 100% anymore,” added Thiem. He lost that match 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

A year later he returned to the final following a Barcelona victory over Nadal and a five-set semi-final against Novak Djokovic. “I really was convinced that I was able to win the finals, to win the French Open,” admitted Thiem. “I didn’t see myself as an underdog, I saw it as a 50-50 match, and I played really well. But it was so impressive how he was raising his level; it was just unbelievable. Kudos to him.” Nadal prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.

Thiem also reflected on spotting Carlos Alcaraz’s talent as a teenager. “I was practising with Carlos when he was 15 or 16 in Rio De Janeiro, and he was very skinny back then, but the practice was so intense,” he said. “I was talking to my coach after, and we were saying this guy is going to be amazing, 100%.

“Maybe yes, maybe no. Luckily, he became one, but it’s very different.

“Sometimes you can see it and it’s so obvious, like I think with Rafa and with Carlos. And then there are players who are developing a bit later, where you cannot see it.”