Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios bromance hits new heights as heart-warming moment spotted

Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic have come a long way from hurling insults at one another in their younger years. The sight of Kyrgios laughing, joking and playing games with Djokovic's children would have been unthinkable back when he called him 'a tool', and the Serb responded by claiming he had 'no respect' for the brash tennis star.

But that's exactly what happened on Thursday. Kyrgios, sitting out Wimbledon due to injury, popped up at the Aorangi practice courts and threw a basketball around with Djokovic's young children, Stefan and Tara.

The pair, aged nine and six, were seen having a ball with Kyrgios in the warm-up zone while Djokovic was being put through his paces. They also had a knock around on the practice courts, which have gradually emptied out as the tournament draws to a close.

Djokovic's kids clearly loved being up close and personal with top tennis talent, as reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz got a high-five from each of them as he strolled through to begin his own practice session.

The niceties might not last long between Djokovic and Alcaraz, however, as they are on course to meet again in this year's final. Kyrgios has been on commentary duty with the BBC while tennis' big hitters battle it out for one of the sport's top prizes.

A turning point in his previously rocky relationship with Djokovic came when he stuck up for the 24-time Grand Slam champion amid a saga surrounding his decision not to be vaccinated against Covid, which ultimately saw him deported from Australia early in 2022.

"What happened here in Australia for me, I don't want to go back, but, you know, we had a tough time, and you stood up for me," Djokovic told Kyrgios.

"That was a big surprise. You were one of the very few colleagues that stood up that used his platform, used his voice, to support me. That's something that I'll never forget, and since that moment, our relationship has got better."

The pair's friendly association now goes back years, and warm words were exchanged when Djokovic defeated Kyrgios in the 2022 Wimbledon men's final. Kyrgios has since explained: "We had a rocky relationship at the start and a couple of things changed and now we literally speak nearly every day."

Djokovic marched into the last four of this year's Wimbledon without even playing a quarter-final as his slated opponent, Alex de Minaur, pulled out due to injury. Lorenzo Musetti now stands between Djokovic and a place in the final for a sixth consecutive year.