Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios explore 'bromance,' motivation and more on 'Good Trouble'

It's no secret that Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios used to get along poorly, from Kyrgios calling the Serb names like "useless" and "a tool," to Djokovic saying a short time later that he had "no respect" for the Aussie.

But that feud is now a friendship: The seeds of a changed relationship were revealed publicly just over a year later in 2022, when Djokovic defeated Kyrgios in four sets in the men's final at Wimbledon. In his winner's speech, Djokovic said Kyrgios was a deserving finalist, and "one of the best players in the world," and the two continued to banter on social media.

"I never thought I'm going to say so many nice things about you," the Serb joked, to a roar of approval from the Centre Court crowd. "OK, it's officially a bromance."

What changed? You'll find out this week on the latest episode of the Aussie's video podcast, Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios, which was filmed in front of a live audience at this year's Australian Open. The pair dish on the evolution of their friendship, or "bromance," as both have called it, and many other topics including the 'GOAT' debate (in both tennis and basketball), health and wellness, and charity work.

Ultimately, Djokovic said, the deportation saga he experienced from Kyrgios' homeland in 2022 as a result of his stance on the COVID-19 vaccination, and Kyrgios' public support of him, is what turned the tables.

"You were pushing all the buttons, man," Djokovic recalls of the pair's early interactions. "I thought to myself, 'Well, you know, I really want to speak to him because I don't know, like, what have I done?' So then two years ago ... 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. 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 gotten better."

As their relationship has changed, Djokovic and Kyrgios have found that they're more alike than they are different. One of the similarities between the two, Kyrgios notes, is how they are publicly portrayed.

But Djokovic disagrees with the assumptions that are often found at at the heart of the narrative.

"People think that I thrive on that energy when somebody doesn't like me or I'm facing adversity on and off the court," Djokovic said. "Over the years, I've learned the lessons in a hard way ... Sometimes when you respond to every article that you read or every single comment or every single statement that somebody makes [about] you, it's not going to get you far. It's only going to get you out of the comfort zone. It's only going to piss you off. I don't want to live in that kind of emotion.

"Sometimes you need to be, I guess, woken up. Sometimes you need to be shaken up to get the best out of yourself. But most of the time, I really want to enjoy life. I want to have a good relationship with people. I really care about this sport. I care about playing in front of people and making, hopefully, people happy with my tennis. That's what it's all about."

But one of the things that is different about the two, Kyrgios says, is how they find motivation and their approach to commitment. Noting that both are something he's struggled with throughout his career, the Aussie says that they've defined Djokovic's. If Kyrgios committed to his regimen for six months, the Serb countered, he would win Wimbledon.

"Whatever I'm doing, there is a purpose, and there is a plan behind it. I've been developing that kind of, sort of say unique signature plan and program and journey over the last 15 years, and I want to share this with people," Djokovic said, also detailing the launch of his health and wellness brand, Sila.

"I think you need really consistency in anything if you want to do it well in life. I feel I always have to express gratitude for having the life that I have, but there are mornings that I'll feel so bad and demotivated and just lack of inspiration to travel, to play tennis. I want to be back home. I want to be with my children. I want to be with my wife. I want to live a normal life, so to say, but then you have to overcome that.

"It all starts and ends with your mind, and I think if you're very clear with yourself, 'What is it that you truly want?,' 'What's the purpose?' I think that's the fundamental question that needs to be answered. But I think that the clarity helps set up kind of the routines, the daily goals, the short-term goals, the long-term goals."

The now-36-year-old says that that mindset has served him well in his maturity, both on and off the court.

"What I think the difference is maybe in the last seven, eight years is that I accept my flaws," he continued. "I accept that I have missed, that I do mistakes and errors, and I try to be a better version of myself the next day, and it might not happen, but at least I'm at peace with myself."

Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios airs on select Wednesdays on T2 (available on Amazon Freevee, Fubo, Hulu, Roku and Samsung TV Plus).