Nick Kyrgios is one of the most entertaining players on the ATP tour and is the player who draws the biggest crowds outside of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The Australian always puts on a show in front of his home fans at the first Grand Slam of the year and excitement is building ahead of next month’s Grand Slam.
One star who is getting to know Kyrgios quite well is Stefanos Tsitsipas – a man tipped by many to take over the mantle when the Big Three retire.
The pair played doubles together for the first time in 2019 and Tsitsipas saw a different side to his team-mate.
“He is very hyperactive. Hates to lose. Trust me. He just hates to lose. I didn’t expect it myself,” Tsitsipas told the No Challenges Remaining podcast.
“We played doubles in Washington DC and when he came off the court he was so disappointed, so frustrated and I was in shock. I didn’t think he would react that way.”
Kyrgios often splits opinions but Tsitsipas does not reckon that is necessarily a bad thing.
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“I wouldn’t say we share a very close friendship but he does FaceTime me from time to time, at complete random times. Sometimes 1am. I don’t get it.”
Kyrgios is not afraid of fighting for what he believes is right – even if that means clashing with some of the biggest players in the world.
The 25-year-old called out world No 1 Novak Djokovic last week for complaining about players’ quarantine conditions.
“He is one of the leaders of our sport,” Kyrgios told CNN. “He’s technically our LeBron James in the way he has to be setting an example for all tennis players.
“When he was doing some of the things he was doing during the global pandemic, it just wasn’t the right time. I know everyone makes mistakes, some of us go off track sometimes, and I think we have to hold each other accountable.
“No one else was really holding him accountable. Everyone loses their way a little bit but I think he just needs to pull it back.”
