Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios savages Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic in remarkable interview
In his most revealing interview yet, Nick Kyrgios has produced a remarkable take-down of tennis champions Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal — while another Spaniard cops a brutal sledge.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nick Kyrgios has laid bare his contempt for Novak Djokovic, launching simultaneous attacks on several other grand slam rivals in an extraordinary assessment of the sport’s stars.
Setting the scene for an explosive French Open showdown, Kyrgios labelled world No 1 Djokovic “cringeworthy”, accusing the Serb of having a “sick obsession” of wanting to be liked.
In a frank and disarming interview on the No Challenges Podcast, Kyrgios flayed Fernando Verdasco, Rafael and Toni Nadal while also ribbing close friend Andy Murray.
MORE TENNIS NEWS
BIZARRE: Kyrgios makes glorious arse of himself
BITTER: Nadal still salty of Kyrgios ‘disrespect’
Predicting Djokovic will never surpass Roger Federer in reputation, even if he betters the Swiss legend’s 20 majors, Kyrgios hinted the world champion is insecure.
“I just feel like he’s (Djokovic’s) got a sick obsession with wanting to be liked,” Kyrgios said.
“He just wants to be Federer.
“I feel he wants to be liked so much, I just can’t stand him. The celebration thing is so cringeworthy.
“He’s unbelievable, a champion of the sport, one of the greatest we will ever see.
“I think he will get the grand slam count (he currently has 15 majors) and overtake Federer.
“(But) we’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year (2009) because it was too hot.
“No matter how many grand slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me.
“For me, Federer will always be the greatest of all-time.
“Novak just riles me the wrong way. He always says what he thinks he needs to say (rather) than his actual opinion.”
Kyrgios vowed to mock the world’s top-ranked player if he beats him for a third straight time.
“The celebration just kills me,” he said.
“If I play him and beat him again, I’m doing the celebration in front of him…that would be hilarious.”
Kyrgios claimed Murray, winner of three majors and two Olympic gold medals, was a better player than Djokovic.
Kyrgios slayed Verdasco as “the most arrogant person ever.”
“He thinks he's God's gift but, dude, your backhand's pretty average.”
Revealing he partied every night in Acapulco, where he won the title after rolling Nadal, Kyrgios claimed he “worked least out of the top 100.”
“For sure even (Bernard) Tomic does more than me,” he said.
“I never wanted that but this is who I am — it’s just tennis.”
Kyrgios said Nadal is “super salty every time I beat him,” calling the Spaniard’s uncle and former coach Toni an “idiot.”
The fiery Australian said “I don’t understand why I have to respect the Big Four automatically — let’s not be fake.”
Claiming “I won’t ever have that grind to go out and play my best every day — jeez if I did I’d have two grand slams”, Kyrgios said his fragile body was likely to betray him again.
“(There’s) no chance my body will last and I don’t like the sport enough,” he said.
“I’m taking the piss out of this sport.”
Declaring winning majors “won’t make me happy”, he said the sport has taken me to dark places.”
“I don’t know if I want to share it right now my parents will disown me.”
Kyrgios again defended his penchant of using underarm serves, saying “no one ever wants to do something out of line in this sport, it’s hilarious. It’s a good play it throws them off.”
Kyrgios’ third-round Italian Open match was delayed by rain on Wednesday night.
Tennis star goes nuclear in ugly tirade
An American tennis star has been widely condemned after he launched an expletive outburst at a chair umpire with video going viral.
Tennis star accidentally sparks racism storm
Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa has been slammed on social media after she was accused of making a racist pose in a restaurant.