Nick Kyrgios believes Novak Djokovic's dominance in tennis is similar to that of LeBron James in the NBA.
Kyrgios disagrees with fellow player Richard Gasquet, who likened Djokovic to basketball legend Michael Jordan.
Djokovic doesn't seem to be slowing down with age and has now won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other male player.
The Serbian, who turns 37 in May, has 24 majors to his name and will be among the favourites at the three remaining Slams in 2024.
Nick Kyrgios has likened Novak Djokovic to basketball great LeBron James
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He exited the Australian Open at the semi-final stage last month but he had struggled with illness in the first few rounds in Melbourne.
France star Gasquet is a year older than Djokovic but has struggled on court so far this year, exiting in the first round of the last four tournaments he has entered.
Gasquet admits it is normal for age to catch up with a tennis player but says Djokovic goes against the grain.
Speaking after his loss to Roberto Bautista Agut at the Marseille Open on Monday, Gasquet likened the world No 1 to six-time NBA champion Jordan.
He said: "One has to become less good, apart from Djokovic, who wins Grand Slams at almost 37 years old.
"Have we ever experienced this in sport, apart from perhaps Jordan?
"[Lionel] Messi plays in Miami, the others in Saudi Arabia, he is world No. 1... I can't explain how a guy like that is so strong at that age.
"At 37-38 years old, normally you are not as good as at 25. I never thought I'd be playing the year I turned 38. Unimaginable."
Eurosport posted Gasquet's quotes on their Instagram page on Wednesday morning.
And Kyrgios was quick to enter the comments by insisting Djokovic is more like James than he is Jordan.
He claimed Djokovic's longevity at the top level is more akin to that of James than Jordan.
The Australian replied: "No, he is LeBron. LeBron is still doing this at 40. Jordan stopped a lot earlier and wasn't as dominant."
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Nick Kyrgios says Novak Djokovic is more like LeBron James than Michael Jordan
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Kyrgios is still rehabilitating from the injuries that kept him out of much of 2023.
He tried his hand at punditry and commentary during the Australian Open.
During Djokovic's first-round win over Dino Prizmic, Kyrgios claimed the Serb is arguably the 'greatest athlete' of all time.
He said: "I think he's in the conversation for greatest athlete ever, with what he's achieving.
Novak Djokovic has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any male player
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"As I alluded to before, the intangibles of this sport are like no other.
"Name me another sport where you can potentially be on the court for an hour and a half or five hours.
"Travelling the world like we do, it's absurd what he's been able to do."
