Novak Djokovic shrugged off Nick Kyrgios's characterisation of him as "cringeworthy" and "having an obsession with wanting to be liked" by insisting the firebrand Australian is a "good guy".
Kyrgios, more often in the headlines for what he says off the court than what he achieves on it, described world number one Djokovic as desperate to be held in the same high esteem as Roger Federer.
"I feel he wants to be liked so much that I just can't stand him. This celebration thing (Djokovic's 'cup of love' gesture to the crowd) is so cringeworthy," Kyrgios told NCR Tennis Podcast.
"No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me. "For me, Federer will always be the greatest of all time."
"I respect him. Does he show me respect to the extent that others do? No, he does not. That's just his way of communicating."
"I was trying to respect everyone in life. I really don't understand his reasons, but I respect him."
"I'm going to need to get used to the grass, and I have a couple of exhibition games lined up. Just two or three sets each so I can test my tactics and technique."
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