‘Hate that s**t’: Nick Kyrgios’ swipe at modern tennis players

As he prepares to return to the court, Nick Kyrgios didn’t hold back in his assessment of the current crop of men’s stars.

Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Photos: News Corp/Getty Images

As he prepares for a long-awaited return to tennis, Nick Kyrgios has sent down a vicious first serve towards the current generation of players.

The 29-year-old, who has played one official tennis match in the past two years, is returning from his injury-enforced lay-off at next month’s Brisbane International.

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All going well, the Aussie star will then lace up his sneakers for the Australian Open in January in a boost to organisers.

While the Canberran isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, with his regular verbal outbursts and racquet smashing tendencies, he is undeniably entertaining.

During a chat with the outspoken Aussie, Nova 100’s Jase and Lauren radio show was thrilled to have Kyrgios back on court for “a bit of entertainment”.

Nick Kyrgios has spoken about the current crop of men’s players. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

When the show put to Kyrgios that he would “bring a bit of life to the sport”, Kyrgios vented his feelings on the current crop of players.

Kyrgios came on the tennis circuit over the back half of the dominant Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic era that is finally coming to a close.

He believes the current crop are overly friendly and it grinds his gears.

“I think it’s a very interesting time at the moment in the tennis world,” he said.

“Obviously, we see, you know, Djokovic, I think we could all say he’s at the tail end of his career. He’s still a phenomenal player.

“But Nadal, literally, today, officially, his last ever time we’re going to see him on the court.

“Federer gone. So look, there’s some amazing players still out there, but I think the game’s a bit bland at the moment.

Kyrgios interviewing Novak Djokovic at the US Open. Photo: Instagram

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

“And, you know, everyone’s liking each other, and everyone’s friends with each other. And I just, I hate that s**t, to be honest.

“Everyone’s everyone’s best mate.”

Italian Jannik Sinner is the current world No. 1, ahead of German Alex Zverev, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, big-serving American Taylor Fritz and Russian Daniil Medvedev.

Sinner, 23, who has two grand slam titles to his name, and Alcaraz — who already has four majors at the age of 21 — appear the two key players set to carry men’s tennis into the future.

Kyrgios and Sinner have butted heads in recent months, with the Australian reacting strongly to the Italian’s positive test for a banned substance.

Kyrgios has also stated he’s looking forward to playing the current men’s rankings leader.

Kyrgios feels there is too much respect on court with the current players and stated Australian sport fans expect to see more fire in the heat of battle.

“As Aussies as well, you look at our sports, they’re rough as anything,” he continued.

“AFL, NRL. That’s why we watch, we watch for entertainment, we watch for bad blood, we watch for, you know, something (physical) maybe happening.

“I’m all for being friends off the court, I just think there’s a bit too much respect inside the lines at the moment in the tennis world.”

Last week, Kyrgios said he’s feeling the best he has “in two years” with confirmation he’ll go back to the tournament he won in 2018 in Brisbane to kickstart his return to competitive tennis.

The former Wimbledon finalist will be the headline act at the Brisbane International.

Australia’s second-highest ranked male player, world No. 24 Alexei Popyrin, plus 26th ranked Jordan Thompson and three-time grand slam quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic are also among the local contingent.

Kyrgios confirmed he will return at the Brisbane International. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Kyrgios has been sidelined with several injuries, including a career-threatening wrist issue and a knee complaint since the 2022 US Open quarter-finals, a setback that came just six weeks after reaching the Wimbledon decider, when he lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic.

It was a conversation with Djokovic which inspired Kyrgios to return, having had doubts during his long lay-off.

“It was a wrist reconstruction, so there was four holes drilled in my hand, and there’s a piece of string kind of holding my wrist together and my fingers looked like sausages when I got out of the surgery,“ said Kyrgios.

“I was in a cast for about 12 weeks, no movement, and I basically just had to relearn how to use my right wrist again, even just carrying grocery bags, anything was super painful.”