Nick Kyrgios speaks on the importance of defeating of Djokovic at tournaments, claiming the event lacks credibility "If you don't go through Novak"

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios recently remarked that if he wins a tournament that doesn’t feature Novak Djokovic, then that would be meaningless.

The pair, who last clashed in the final of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, were set to lock horns once again on Day 3 of the World Tennis League. However, the match between Falcons’ Djokovic and Eagles’ Kyrgios was called off as the Serb was forced to withdraw due to illness.

"Novak Djokovic announced that he would not be partaking in the World Tennis League event tonight (21 December) due to not feeling 100 per cent well enough to play. Team Falcons will continue to play against Team Eagles and we look forward to Novak's return to centre court," read a statement released by the World Tennis League.

Grigor Dimitrov took the former World No. 1's place and defeated Kyrgios 7-6, 6-3. However, the Eagles prevailed over the Falcons 38-31.

Speaking after his match, Kyrgios remarked that Djokovic should play in all tournaments as he is one of the greatest of all time, and that winning a tournament that doesn’t feature Novak Djokovic would not be a worthy accomplishment.

"I think Novak needs to be playing at all costs. He's one of the greatest of all time and as long as he's going to be playing and hanging around, we need him at these tournaments," Kyrgios told AFP. "I think, as a competitor, I want to see him there. And if I win a tournament, if you don't go through Novak, then you kind of know the tournament isn't really a tournament."