"Novak Djokovic really is a man of principle and we have to respect that, you can never call him a hypocrite" - Reilly Opelka

Reilly Opelka bestowed high praise on Novak Djokovic in a recent interview, remarking that the World No. 2 is a "man of principle" for his willingness to stand up for other players even when it was not in his best interest to do so.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe podcast, the American revealed that he deeply respected the Serb for his contributions to the game. The 24-year-old's also referenced the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) co-founded by Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil to create better autonomy for players within the sport.

Opelka was of the opinion that even those who disagreed with Djokovic would admit that the 20-time Grand Slam champion only said things he fully believed in, making him the furthest thing from a hypocrite. The World No. 17 added that he enjoyed the rare moments he got to spend in the company of the former World No. 1.

"The fact that [Novak Djokovic] is still willing to fight for other players is [remarkable]. It is clearly out of his best interest to do so. He really is a man of principle and we have to respect that. One thing you can never call him is a hypocrite," Opelka said. "He says what he believes in. I really enjoy spending time with him when I have [got the opportunity to] chat with him. I respect him for a lot of reasons."

Regarding the World No. 2's views on vaccination, a stance that has been hotly debated over the last few months, Reilly Opelka asserted that he had the "right intentions." Opelka also hailed the character displayed by the 20-time Grand Slam champion for sticking to his principles even when the public perception turned against him.

"[He] does have the right intentions when it comes to vaccinations, there's no doubt about it. He's more than okay from a financial standpoint," Opelka said. "His grand kids and his great kids are going to be just fine in terms of finances and I think that's what shows a lot about his character."

Novak Djokovic confirmed to play at 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

Novak Djokovic is scheduled to play at the Monte-Carlo Masters up next

Having been forced to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters as well as the upcoming Miami Masters due to the US vaccine mandate, Novak Djokovic's next destination has been confirmed to be the Monte-Carlo Masters.

The former World No. 1 is a two-time winner at the ATP 1000 event. The Serb won his first title in 2013, scoring an impressive straight-sets victory over eight-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the final. The 34-year-old's second title came in 2015, when he defeated Nadal in the semifinals and Tomas Berdych in the final.

In 2021, he was the top seed but succumbed to a shock straight-sets defeat against Dan Evans in the third round.