Nick Kyrgios rumours swirl after Naomi Osaka’s revelation

Tennis fans are playing the guessing game and Nick Kyrgios is the name on their lips after fellow star Naomi Osaka’s telling revelation.

Will Nick Krygios have a new mixed doubled partner?

Rumours are swirling that Naomi Osaka may team up to play mixed doubles with Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon.

The four-time grand slam champion confirmed she’ll be playing mixed doubles at the All England Club but wouldn’t reveal who her partner will be.

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“I have been really trying to focus on my net game, because I’m going to play mixed doubles in Wimbledon. I know, shocking, right?” Osaka told reporters.

“I’m shocked too. Your eyes got super big.

“I really don’t want to disappoint the person I’m playing with because whenever I play doubles I always say, ‘Sorry, I’m going to try not be a liability’.”

Asked if she would name her partner, Osaka added: “If this person sees it and they want to respond, they can do that, but I don’t know. Isn’t it more fun to kind of see it when it’s around the time? I’m pretty sure if you wanted to guess you could guess who it is.”

Osaka’s response led fans to question whether Kyrgios is the mystery man who will join her on the most famous grass courts in tennis. Although the Aussie suggested he wouldn’t join forces with Thanasi Kokkinakis in men’s doubles in London, the door is still ajar for the mixed doubles draw — which he has competed in previously.

Last year Kyrgios played alongside Venus Williams and in 2019 he and Desirae Krawczyk were partners.

Could we see Kyrgios and Osaka together? (AAP Image/Scott Barbour)

Earlier this year Kyrgios shared a video on Instagram of Osaka watching him work on his serve.

“Quick LA session with @naomiosaka. Analysing my serve to find any small detail … Her hunger to learn was pretty epic to see from a champ like her,” Kyrgios wrote.

That clip saw tennis lovers call for the pair to team up and they may get their wish as social media speculated a new partnership could be unveiled at Wimbledon.

In response to Osaka’s cryptic answer, English sports reporter James Gray tweeted: “The obvious answer is Nick Kyrgios, but I would only caution that with the fact that Kyrgios said he wouldn’t play doubles at Wimbledon this year after winning Australian Open with Thanasi Kokkinakis. May just have been talking about men’s doubles, of course.”

Journalist Kiran Gupta wrote: “Bit late to the party but seems pretty clear that Osaka is going to pair up with Kyrgios at Wimbledon (unless it’s someone slightly less obvious like Murray or Tsitsipas).

“On grass, that’s gonna be WILD. Good luck breaking their serves!”

Tennis writer Musab Abid added: “Osaka didn’t reveal who her mixed doubles partner will be, but if I had to guess I’d say Kyrgios.”

Kyrgios?!?! https://t.co/Yk9egBl6Mv

— Matt Hardy (@MattHardyJourno) May 2, 2022

An injured Osaka made a second round exit from the Madrid Open on Monday, falling 6-3 6-1 to home favourite Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Osaka revealed she sustained an Achilles injury after her opening win against Anastasia Potapova and that it limited her performance against the tireless Spaniard.

It was the Japanese star’s second consecutive loss to Sorribes Tormo, who advanced to a last-16 showdown with Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.

Osaka, playing with tape on her left lower leg, dropped serve in game three as Sorribes Tormo extended the rallies to draw the errors from her 24-year-old opponent. But the Spaniard’s lead did not last as Osaka retaliated immediately to draw level for 2-2.

Sorribes Tormo took four of the next five games though to grab the opening set on the 49-minute mark.

Osaka was broken early in the second and called for the doctor, who gave her Ibuprofen for the pain.

The 25-year-old Sorribes Tormo breezed through the second set and the contest was over in under 90 minutes.

Osaka is not too concerned about the Achilles problem but admits she could have managed the injury better by taking painkillers sooner than she did.

“I feel like I couldn’t play the way that I wanted to play, like I was limited. So there are various things I thought I could do better from the match previously, but I just couldn’t do it,” Osaka explained.

With AFP

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios rumours swirl after Naomi Osaka’s revelation