Nick Kyrgios says Wimbledon a vacation as he slams Sydney’s lockdown as ‘crazy’

Nick Kyrgios says he is only at Wimbledon ‘as a change of scenery’ as he slams Sydney’s latest lockdown as ‘pretty crazy’.

Nick Kyrgios says he is only at Wimbledon “as a vacation” and “a change of scenery” as he described Sydney’s latest Covid-19 lockdown as “pretty crazy”.

The irony of being at Wimbledon was not lost on Kyrgios after his self-imposed absenteeism from the tennis circuit last year as Covid-19 ravaged Europe and the United States.

Sitting in the midst of Wimbledon’s manicured Championships venue as British lockdown measures gradually eased, he bragged about his freedom and upcoming trips over the next four months – all the while Sydney was in lockdown and the rest of NSW and Australia were implementing ever tighter border restrictions.

“I’m going to get myself some strawberries and chill and hit some serves, hit some volleys, enjoy the grass and chill out,” Kyrgios began about his Wimbledon plans.

Nick Kyrgios is looking forward to his Wimbledon “vacation”. Picture: Getty Images

The Championship is due to be played with increasing numbers of spectators, all unmasked in their seats. But showing an insensitivity to the inability of nearly all Australians to be able to exit the country, even for emergency family issues, Kyrgios added “I know it sounds ridiculous but I am using it as a vacation. You know, I have been in Australia for a year-and-a-half, and you know a quick trip to London, then I am going to go to the Bahamas after this and then the US Swing (tournaments) and then hopefully the Laver Cup and an exhibition in Chile against (45-year-old former number one Marcelo) Rios. So you know I’m just using this as a big kind of change of scenery … I’ve really reached a really nice level of freedom, like nothing fazes me at all anymore.”

Pressed on how he felt about being on the other side of the world while Sydney was in lockdown Kyrgios, noted: “I think Australia definitely hit the button a little quicker than most places, when you get like 16 cases in Sydney and then Sydney is full lockdown.

“It’s obviously tough to see and it’s tough for those people in Sydney, but you know 16 cases and that whole state has to go into lockdown is pretty crazy. But I think that’s the way that Australia deals with it and that why I think we’ve been so successful with it.“

Kyrgios, 26, said he was more than content to be out of the country for the northern hemisphere summer and his trademark bravado hadn’t diminished after sitting out international tennis tournaments last season.

Just last August, he explained missing the US Open as: “I‘m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans that have lost their lives, for all of you.”

But overnight (AEST), ahead of Monday’s Wimbledon opener against Ugo Humbert – where the loser will pocket $A88,000 – Kyrgios was talking himself up, despite having only had an occasional hit to prepare.

“I definitely feel that I can beat 50 per cent of the draw on grass without much preparation,” the Canberran said, adding that Humbert had “the game to do some pretty special things”.

Humbert, ranked 25 in the world, is fresh off a victory at the Halle Open. But in the next breath, lest Humbert sensed any physiological edge, Kyrgios added: “But I know for a fact that no one here wanted to play me first round, and I feel completely confident going into this match.”

Kyrgios said he smirked at seeing tennis social media ‘blowing up’ that he had only played two tournaments in a year-and-a-half, and had now drawn Humbert in the most anticipated match of the first round.

“It is going to be fun, he’s a hell of a player, and I’m excited,’’ Kyrgios said.