'That's why he lost' Novak Djokovic shares Nick Kyrgios joke after winning Wimbledon title

Novak Djokovic has joked that the reason Nick Kyrgios lost to him in the Wimbledon final was because the Aussie didn't want to follow through on his promise that the champion would pay for dinner. As recently as last year, Djokovic and Kyrgios' relationship off the pitch was strained and the polar opposites never seemed likely to become friends.

Everything changed during the Australian Open visa fiasco for Djokovic earlier this year when Kyrgios was one of the few people to show his support for the Serb. Since then, it seems the duo have struck up a strange "bromance", according to Kyrgios.

The duo posted regularly on social media and even spoke out ahead of Sunday's final. Fireworks were still expected on the court and Kyrgios took the opening set with a potential upset on the cards.

But Djokovic rallied to win the next three sets and clinch his fourth straight Wimbledon title. Kyrgios was competing in his first-ever Grand Slam final and the Aussie star later joked that he didn't know if he would be able to repeat the feat.

But Djokovic is confident the 27-year-old will compete for major titles in the future.

“Nick, you will come back,” Djokovic said. "I never thought I'd say so many nice things about you considering the relationship. Alright, it's officially a bromance.

Sue Barker went on to highlight how their friendship took to another level this week when the couple exchanged words about who the winner was buying dinner. Djokovic was about to respond before hearing Kyrgios quickly interject and the Serb jokingly quoted his rival as saying: "That's why he lost.

"I don't know if we'll make it tonight or another night. I hope this is the start of a wonderful relationship between the two of us off the pitch as well."

The BBC presenter continued to ask about the Instagram exchange, with Kyrgios' last post being a request for the couple to go to a nightclub.

Djokovic then said, "I didn't answer that because my wife was next to me. Let's start with dinner and drinks and we'll see."