World No.36 Nick Kyrgios is once again embroiled in controversy following an extraordinary interview with the No Challenges remaining podcast.
Kyrgios, who is a two-time grand slam quarter-finalist, criticised a series of his fellow players on the tour during a 50-minute conversation with Ben Rothenberg from The New York Times. The most prominent of those he hit out at was world No.1 Novak Djokovic. Who he has a 2-0 head-to-head record against on the tour.
The Australian has said that he ‘can’t stand’ Djokovic and his post-match celebration is ‘cringeworthy.’ Although he admits that the Serbian could one day overtake Roger Federer in terms of the most grand slam titles won, Kyrgios said Djokovic would never be as ‘great’ as him.
‘I just feel like he’s got a sick obsession with wanting to be liked,’ Kyrgios commented about Djokovic.
‘He just wants to be Federer. I feel he wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him. This 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 and overtake Federer.
‘[But] we’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year because it was too hot. No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me.
‘I’ve played him twice and I’m sorry but if you cannot beat me, you cannot be the greatest of all time. Look at how much I train and put in… it’s zero compared to him.”
Speaking about other members of the Big Four, Kyrgios praised their achievements on the court. The group consists of Djokovic, Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Between them, they have won 55 grand slam titles. Outside of the group, the last person to top the ATP rankings was Andy Roddick back in 2004.
“For me Federer will always be the greatest of all time. What Rafa has done has been pretty scary too.‘ Kyrgios stated.
“But Novak just riles me the wrong way. He always says what he thinks he needs to say rather than his actual opinion.
‘The celebration just kills me. Every time it does… it kills me. If I play him and beat him again, I’m doing the celebration in front of him [laughing]… that would be hilarious!’
Praise for Murray
Speaking most specifically about Murray, Kyrgios believes the Brit has more talent than the current world No.1. Murray hasn’t played since January due to an hip injury and it remains to be seen if and when he will return to the tour. He has undergone hip resurfacing surgery. Murray has been gradually returning to training in recent weeks.
‘I’m sad [about Murray’s injury problems]. Genuinely sad. I think his record against Djokovic is embarrassing.” He said.
‘I feel he’s so much better than Novak, I’ve played them both. I think Andy returns better, his serve is better. He should have won so many more Grand Slams.
‘Against Murray you can’t slice, he knows that’s garbage. But I feel Djokovic doesn’t really know what to do [to that]. ‘If I was Murray’s coach he would have won more Grand Slams for sure!’
It is not the first time the 24-year-old have said comments similar to these. In January he wrote a special tribute to his fellow player in an article for The Guardian. Praising Murray for the support he has received. In the piece he said he once told Murray ‘Dude, you’re so much better than Djokovic, you should have a way better career.’
‘Salty’ Nadal
Speaking about 11-time French Open champion Nadal, the Australian has described him as a bad loser. Earlier this year, Nadal said Kyrgios ‘lacks respect’ following his loss to him at the Mexican Open. Describing him as a ‘dangerous player who lacks consistency.’ Shortly after those comments, Nadal said his words have been ‘misinterpreted.’
“He’s my polar opposite, like literally my polar opposite. And he’s super salty.” Kyrgios said of the world No.2.
“Every time I’ve beaten him … when he wins, it’s fine. He won’t say anything bad, he’ll credit the opponent, ‘He was a great player’.
“But as soon as I beat him, it’s just like, ‘He has no respect for me, my fans and no respect to the game’.
“And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? I literally played this way when I beat you the other previous times and nothing changed … When you beat me in Rome here a couple of years ago, nothing changed; I was the same person’.
“It’s not a good look for you, I feel. And then Uncle Toni (Nadal) came out saying, ‘He lacks education’. I’m like, ‘Bra, I did 12 years at school, you idiot. I’m very educated. I understand that you’re upset I beat your family again’.”
Kyrgios also expressed frustration about how he is treated on the tour by fans. The former top 20 player has been embroiled in controversy throughout his career with various fines and allegations of tanking. At one point he was even briefly suspended from the ATP Tour for unsportsmanlike conduct during the 2016 Shanghai Masters.
“When I say something after I play him, it’s not going to get noticed as much. But when he says something, it’s like that’s the only thing that matters. They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, he must be right. This guy must lack education, he must lack respect’.” He said.
“And you’re asking me why I do things and why I go back at fans in the crowd. And that’s why. These guys show me no respect. None. So why would I show you respect? For instance, when I’m taking matches, I don’t care that you paid for tickets. You guys treat me like crap anyway. Rafa gets me vexed, as well.”
The most arrogant person ever
Another player to feel the wrath of Kyrgios’ verbal attack was Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. A former top 10 player who has won seven ATP titles during his career. The two engaged in a twitter spat last year during the Miami Open. Kyrgios described him as the ‘saltiest dude’ during that exchange. The comment was then deleted on Twitter, which Verdasco criticised by saying ‘’when you have the courage to put a tweet insulting another player you need to have the same to don’t delete it.’
“Verdasco drives me nuts, man. That guy … I don’t even want to talk about it,” Kyrgios said.
“It gets me so vexed, I’m like angry now that I just hear that name. He’s the most arrogant person ever.
“He doesn’t say hello, he thinks he’s so good, he thinks he’s God’s gift. Dude, your backhand’s pretty average and let’s be honest, you hit a ball over a net.
“Guy’s like that, they drive me insane. There’s no humility there, there’s no perspective. It’s just like, ‘I’m here, I’m so cool, I’m unbelievable because I hit a ball over the net. Do this for me, do this for me, I won’t say hello to you, I’m too important’.
“Guys like that. See how angry I’m getting? It kills me. He just rubs me the wrong way.”
On the tour, Kyrgios has won both of his meetings against the Spaniard. Although, they havn’t played each other since the 2016 Atlanta Open.
Kyrgios is currently playing at the Italian Open this week. He will take on Norway’s Casper Ruud in the second round. Should he reach the quarter-finals, he may play top seed Djokovic.
