Nick Kyrgios has unloaded on Australian tennis greats, saying Lleyton Hewitt is the country’s only champion to have truly stuck by him during the 27-year-old’s turbulent career.
Two days out from the biggest match of his life, Wimbledon singles finalist Kyrgios said it was “sad” that many Australian tennis legends had a “sick obsession” of wanting to tear him down.
“Look, the greats of Australian tennis, they haven’t always been the nicest to me personally. They haven’t always been supportive,” Kyrgios said at his pre-Wimbledon final press conference at the All England Club on Friday.
“They haven’t been supportive these two weeks. So it’s hard for me to kind of read things that they say about me.
“For instance, when I saw Ash Barty in the final of Australia, I was nothing but happy. I would never say a bad word about an Australian making a final. Like that’s just me.
“And the kind of only great that’s ever been supportive of me the whole time has been Lleyton Hewitt. Like he knows.
“He’s our Davis Cup captain, and he kind of knows that I kind of do my own thing. I’m definitely the outcast of the Australian players.
Nick Kyrgios (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“He knows to kind of keep his distance and just let me do me. He just sends me a message here or there, ‘Keep going’. That’s literally it. Just, ‘Well done. Keep going’.
“It’s pretty sad because I don’t get any support from any of the other Australian tennis players, the male side – not the (current) players, but like the past greats.
“It’s weird: they just have like a sick obsession with tearing me down for some reason.”
Pat Cash, who won Wimbledon in 1987, earlier this week accused Kyrgios of “cheating”, “manipulating” and “abusing” opponents and officials and generally taking “tennis to the lowest level I can see”.
A polarising figure, Kyrgios said he didn’t know why he was treated so poorly by the greats.
“Like, I just don’t know whether they don’t like me or they’re, like, afraid. I don’t know. I don’t know what it is,” he said.
“But it sucks, because if it was roles reversed, if I saw (Alex) de Minaur in a final, or if I saw Jordan Thompson or Thanasi (Kokkinakis), I’d be pumped. I’d be stoked.
“I’d be having a pint watching, going nuts. So I don’t know. Shout-out to Lleyton, I guess.”
Kyrgios, who even spent a couple of hours hitting with Hewitt on Sydney’s grass courts last month before flying out for Europe, will play six-time champion Novak Djokovic or great British hope Cameron Norrie for the Wimbledon men’s singles title on Sunday.
Healthydays
Guest
One who casts stones rather than offering support needs to look within, themselves.
Tony
Guest
But there's a different reason Clint doesn't use all capitals.
Greg Davie
Guest
Aussie ,aussie aussie !!!
Anne Failes
Guest
Spot on John Allan! The fact that Kyrgios can’t see/understand why he’s not liked says it all. Open your eyes Nick, and take a good hard look at yourself and your behaviours! You’re an embarrassment to yourself and to our country.
jitesh
Guest
Actually, it's only shouting in text boxes. Haven't seen anyone care about how capitalization in names are used.
Clint
Guest
Since the invention of the internet.....
Jeff
Roar Rookie
“Look, the greats of Australian tennis, they haven’t always been the nicest to me personally" Oh the irony. This guy really fits the classic definition of a narcissist.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Nick probably needs to ask the question, is there a collective issue with all Aussie tennis greats, or could the fault lie at Nick’s feet? Interesting to see that Novak could win Wimbledon and have his rankings drop from 3rd to 7th. Nick should have been in the top 20 with a win, but instead will stay outside the top 40. ATP completely lost the plot by stripping ranking points.
Tony
Roar Guru
Since when is using capitals shouting?
Mitcher
Guest
You seem upset I’ve pointed out an error in your ways JOHN. Imagine how poor Nick would feel if he had the time or inclination to learn of your incessant attacks.
Arthur Fallowfield
Guest
Novax v Kyrgios? They can't both lose? Curses!
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Omfg just shut up and go and play tennis will ya !
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I will let you into a secret, Mitcher whoever you are. I am fairly computer illiterate & when I discovered this site. I joined by logging in & used capital letters unaware of its significance. I have since discovered that it indicates I’’m shouting “ my name. Didn’t know at the time as it was done innocently & I have no idea how to change it. So there you are. You are not the first person to point it out to me. Feeling good about it, are you?
vonManstein
Roar Rookie
I'm a huge fan of Djokovic, his mental fortitude on the court has become a thing of marvel. I think we're actually in for a spectacular final, particularly if NK is on. Novak is yet to win a set off Nick. Albeit they've only played 4. I couldn't care less about personas and antics, I just wanna see an epic 5 set roller coaster of a match. And if NK can somehow pull out a victory, I'd be well pleased too.
Mitcher
Guest
Speaking of sick obsessions everyone… I present you JOHN (yes he yells his own name) ALLAN.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
So it’s Nick v Novak in the final. As much as I dislike Novak for his arrogance, he is a “robot” & will ignore Kyrgios’ petulance, racquet smashing, swearing, talking to himself, disrespect to match officials, spitting, general poor behaviour. Even though I am always patriotic & supportive of Australian athletes & teams, I hope Novak wipes the floor with him. So Nick can’t fathom why he isn’t being supported by past players of the game? Let me tell him. He is the “David Warner” equivalent & whilst there will be like minded people who either condone that type of attitude or possibly behave that way themselves in life, I don’t & cringe every time I see him on TV. Kyrgios doesn’t represent my country as he participates in an individual sport (apart from Davis Cup)) & he certainly doesn’t represent people with morals & ethics.