Not just Jannik Sinner: Nick Kyrgios also goads Rafa Nadal

That Nick Kyrgios feels he is the ‘nemesis’ of Jannik Sinner is now well known history, as evidenced by the Australian’s venomous statements and social posts towards the current world No. 1. However, there&#8217s another tennis player who, by Kyrgios&#8217s own admission, has never inspired him with sympathy: it is one of the legends of the sport, Rafa Nadal.

Interviewed by reporters from ‘TNT Sports’ on some of the aspects that have most impressed him in his career, Kyrgios had no tender words for the Manacor ace: “One thing I have never been able to stand – said the Australian’are players who take too long between serves, like Rafa Nadal“. Words of praise, on the other hand, for Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, as well as for Andy Murray and, as for the champions of the new generation, Carlos Alcaraz.

This is not the first time Kyrgios has thrown a dig at Nadal. Already in a speech to the podcast ‘Nothing Major’ hosted by Sam Querrey, John Isner, Steve Johnson and Jack Sock, Kyrgios had said, talking about the Mallorcan: “I couldn&#8217t stand him, I only had to see him walk to despise him, and that&#8217s why I was so motivated when I played against him”.

They were all so motivated when I played against him.

“When we were on the court facing each other’he had then added the Australian–I was trying to give my best to prove to all those who idolized him that you can play and live quietly, have fun and still beat your opponents”. Nadal and Kyrgios have faced each other 9 times in their careers, with a 6-3 record for the Spaniard. A tenth direct clash was supposed to be in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2022, but Nadal had to forfeit due to injury.