Nick Kyrgios news took over tennis circles after the Australian star sparked fresh debate about Rafael Nadal. During an Instagram Q&A, a fan asked him to choose between “Punch Nadal for 50million or win slam.” Instead of selecting the long-awaited Grand Slam victory, Kyrgios chose the money option without hesitation. He confirmed it with a quick response:
“50 milly @yungjamzz.”
Kyrgios has appeared in only one major final, at Wimbledon 2022, where Novak Djokovic defeated him.
Kyrgios Opens Up Again About His Complicated Equation With Rafael Nadal
The relationship between Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal has entertained tennis fans for years. Their matches often carried intense energy, and their contrasting styles added drama. Now, with Nadal retired and Kyrgios rarely competing, their rivalry mainly resurfaces through interviews and social media.
Kyrgios has long expressed irritation with Nadal’s match routines. On the Nothing Major podcast, he recalled his earlier feelings bluntly:
“I couldn’t stand him. When I saw him walking on and off the court, it filled me with hatred; I despised him immensely.”
He continued the theme in another conversation with TNT Sports, criticizing Nadal’s time between serves:
“What Rafa had were tennis diseases with all that stuff he did during matches. Some of his gestures disgusted me. I hated seeing players who took so long between serves, especially between the first and second serve. He did it, and that made me despise him.”
Despite those complaints, Kyrgios acknowledged Nadal’s role in driving him to perform better:
“Playing against him motivated me greatly; I felt a great anger inside me and always tried to play my best tennis to show everyone that I idolized him for his work ethic, that you can succeed while having fun and staying calm. I never had similar feelings when facing Roger or Novak, for example.”
Their Rivalry Still Stands Out in Modern Tennis
The Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal head-to-head currently sits at 6-3 in Nadal’s favor. Their last scheduled clash came at Wimbledon 2022, though Nadal withdrew before their semifinal. Their prior meeting at Indian Wells saw Nadal edge Kyrgios in a competitive quarterfinal battle.
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