What Rafael Nadal said about Nick Kyrgios after knocking him out of the Australian Open back in 2020
What Rafael Nadal said about Nick Kyrgios after knocking him out of the Australian Open back in 2020
Peter Lynch
Peter Lynch
Tue 7 January 2025 17:00, UK
Nick Kyrgios has returned to the ATP Tour ahead of the Australian Open, which is certain to spell both excitement and drama.
Kyrgios will play UTS Guadalajara in February, but first his focus will be on preparing for the Australian Open.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist made his return to the ATP Tour following a lengthy injury spell at the Brisbane International last week.
Kyrgios will now have scans on his wrist ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2025, having undergone surgery on the problem in September 2023.
He made his comeback at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi in December, and followed that exhibition event by playing singles and doubles in Brisbane.
Nick Kyrgios reacts in the Mens’s Doubles match partnered with Novak Djokovic against Andreas Mies and Alexander Erler during day two of the 2025 B…
Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
What Rafael Nadal said about Nick Kyrgios at the 2020 Australian Open
Kyrgios surprisingly teamed up with Novak Djokovic at the season-opener, with the pair having seemingly been fierce rivals once upon a time.
But such a partnership would likely not have been possible with another icon in Rafael Nadal, who certainly didn’t always see eye-to-eye with the controversial Australian.
One significant meeting between the pair took place in the 2020 Australian Open fourth round, with Nadal having been tasked to discuss Kyrgios after knocking him out of the Grand Slam.
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Asked if he was ever surprised by some of the shots his opponent plays, the Spaniard responded: “Not today. Probably at the beginning of his career maybe yes, but not now. I am used to seeing him.
“Honestly, as I said, today I think he played very serious, he played very focused, and he tried all the time his best.
“When he was serving his way, this thing, when I criticise him in Acapulco after the match, people understood that was because he was serving sometimes like this.
“I never criticised that. It is part of the game. I criticised at that moment his attitude on the match, not that he was serving one way or another way. I think it’s part of the game. If he wants to serve like this, honestly, better for me. That’s all.”
Why Rafael Nadal had conflicting views about Nick Kyrgios
Nadal was referencing the trademark underarm serving of Kyrgios during their meeting at Acapulco a year before.
Such a tactic visibly frustrated the Spaniard, with the Australian carrying out the same approach in their Wimbledon meeting shortly after.
A more serious Kyrgios was, however, seemingly taking on Nadal in that 2020 Australian Open epic, where the former narrowly lost 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4) to the latter.
Asked if his opponent that day could be a force when he concentrates, Nadal responded: “I answered this question two days ago. I don’t change my mind.
“When he wants to play tennis, when he’s focused on what he’s doing, I think he’s a very important player for our sport because he has a big talent.
“Yeah, he’s one of these players that can be very, very interesting for the crowd. I am never against his way or style to play.
READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios picks who has the biggest serve out of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, John Isner and Ivo Karlovic
“When I criticise him in the past it is because I think he did a couple of things that are not right and are not the right image for our sport and for the kids. But when he’s doing the right things, I am the first one who supports this.
“Personally I saw him playing during the whole tournament almost every match, and he has been great, with a very positive attitude.
“Personally, I like to watch him play when he’s doing that way. I think everybody likes to watch Nick play when he’s able to play like this.
“His talent is to be one of the best in the world, without a doubt, with good chances to fight for every tournament.”
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The pair met just once more on the ATP Tour following that clash in Melbourne, where Nadal overcame Kyrgios in their 2022 Indian Wells quarter-final match.
A 2022 Wimbledon semi-final wasn’t played out due to Nadal withdrawing with injury, with the Spanish star ending his career with a 6-3 win record over his old rival.
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Nick Kyrgios
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