Nick Kyrgios leather against Nadal, Djokovic and Verdasco
Nick Kyrgios vigorously distributed "No Challenges Remaining" in the podcast. And also gave insights into his future - which will not last too long in tennis.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 17, 2019, 04:22 pm
Nick Kyrgios was in a good mood when he met Ben Rothenberg on Tuesday after the success against Daniil Medvedev. The American journalist has been at the start of the biggest events on the tour for years, has at least as much counter-speech as support from (ex) players - and has chatted with Kyrgios for just over three quarters of an hour. The result is definitely worth listening to, even if you don't necessarily have to share the Australian's views.
In any case, the first impression remains that Nick Kyrgios does not feel particularly comfortable in his profession as a tennis professional. The long journeys tortured him, he actually wanted to be at home in Canberra to play basketball with his buddies there every day. With a reason, by the way, why the tennis career will not last too long: The fun-driven basketball sport demands too much from him.
Kyrgios: In Acapulco the nights turned into day
Nick Kyrgios has no illusions about his attitude to tennis. How little he invested in his profession, he noticed at the latest when Bernard Tomic prepared himself more conscientiously for a match than himself. He, Kyrgios, played tennis for fun, but otherwise wanted to miss little of life. During the tournament week in Acapulco, he went around the houses every night and never got to bed before three in the morning. And still won the 500 event.
Not everyone on the tour gets along with this attitude, but Nick Kyrgios doesn't get along with everyone either. The number one on the Do-Not-Invite-Together list with Kyrgios is Fernando Verdasco, whose arrogance drives the 24-year-old to a boil. Without questioning their sporting achievements, Kyrgios can also do little with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic wants to be loved by everyone
Nadal would constantly demand respect, but only if Kyrgios had just hit him (like that week in Acapulco). And Djokovic is so eager to be liked by everyone that this annoys Kyrgios. He believed that the industry leader would break Roger Federer's Grand Slam record, but Kyrgios's hair was raised at Djokovic's cheer gesture.
The good news: there are some players that Nick Kyrgios can do very well on the tour. In front the currently injured Thanasi Kokkinakis and Andy Murray. Kyrgios considers the latter to be a better player than Djokovic, but still not suitable as a coach for himself ("I am untrainable"). It clicked with Frances Tiafoe from the start, but Kyrgios had yet to find Stefanos Tsitsipas. Even more so about Roger Federer: He is and will remain the greatest of all time. Regardless of whether Djokovic exceeds its best marks.