Novak Djokovic follows up Nick Kyrgios offer with support to rival that beat him

Novak Djokovic has offered up advice to Holger Rune weeks after claiming he could coach Nick Kyrgios. The world No 1 was asked about Rune after the Dane picked him as the Big Four member he wanted to have dinner with. And Djokovic revealed that he was always on hand for Rune despite losing to him in the Paris Masters final.

Djokovic has been in a generous mood with his rivals recently, first joking that he could coach Kyrgios to “five Grand Slam titles”, though it wouldn’t come cheap. The 22-time Major winner has now offered up his guidance to Rune, saying he was always there for whatever the world No 7 needed.

The world No 1 made the offer after he was told that the Dane said he wanted to have dinner with him, as a reporter told Djokovic: “I asked him which one he would pick to go out for dinner between the Fab Four. He choose yourself just to ask you the reason of your difficult and different choices in your life.”

In response, Djokovic said he would gladly accept the offer if Rune ever invited him out and said he was on hand for any advice the 20-year-old needed. “Well, it’s nice to hear from him that he would like to have a dinner with me,” the 35-year-old said.

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“I hope he invites me. I still didn’t get a question. If I do, I’ll gladly accept it. We’ve been training quite a few times in the last few years. He’s one of the leaders of the future generation of tennis.”

Rune previously defeated Djokovic in their only meeting – the final of the Paris Masters. And the world No 1 revealed that he had already told the four-time title winner that he was available to talk.

Djokovic added: “He knows, I told him whatever he needs, I’m always here. He wants to have a conversation…” The Serb also knew that it could be tough given that they were now rivals, with Rune cementing himself as a title contender at the biggest events.

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But given his experience, Djokovic was happy to advise any young player starting out – including Rune. “I know it’s difficult because he’s a top-10 player,” he said.

“Of course, as a rival, you maybe don’t want to get too close to your biggest rivals. We are in a different, in a way, position because I’ve been playing professional tennis for 20 years, he just started. If there is something that he thinks that I can help him with or share something, I’m always open for that, as I always was and always am for all the young players.”

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