A few weeks before starting a new season in Brisbane, the controversial ‘Aussie’ player Nick Kyrgios made a revealing confession about his relationship with Rafa Nadal in his recent appearance on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, directed by former tennis players such as John Isner and Sam Querrey , among others.
In this program, Kyrgios did not hide having felt hatred towards the Spaniard, who permanently retired from tennis after the Davis Cup after losing to the Netherlands and ending with a balance of three wins and six losses throughout his career. .
“I couldn’t stand it. “I hated him and despised him a lot when I saw him walking around,” said the Australian, who also explained that he used that feeling as motivation every time he faced Nadal, something that did not happen when he faced other giants like Roger Federer or Novak. Djokovic.
“He was a guy who always motivated me, if I played against him, I would try hard and try to play the best tennis possible. I didn’t feel that anger towards Federer or Djokovic when I played against them“, he commented. “If I played with Rafa, everyone idolized him, they said that he is a hard worker, that he is this and that… and I thought: ‘I can’t stand him.’ “I wanted to show people that you can have fun, be calm and beat people that way,” Kyrgios said.
However, despite having had his differences with Rafa, the Australian also made no secret of being moved by the Manacorí’s retirement, and acknowledged that he had a “spectacular career”, as 22 Grand Slams support him.
“He had a spectacular career. I don’t think we’ll ever see someone so dominant on clay, in any way. I don’t think that’s possible,” said Kyrgios, who paid a heartfelt tribute to Nadal on social media the day the Spaniard announced his retirement from tennis.
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Ready to return
Meanwhile, the controversial Australian player is preparing to actively return to the new season, and he will do so in Brisbane just before the first Grand Slam of the season precisely at home, the Australian Open. After spending almost two years punished by continuous physical problems, Kyrgios wants to return to a good level on the ATP circuit and show that injuries are now part of the past.