Nick Kyrgios recently opened up about his past animosity toward Rafael Nadal during an episode of the Nothing Major podcast, hosted by former American tennis players. The Australian athlete admitted to having a strong dislike for Nadal during the early stages of his career, contrasting it with his feelings toward Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s other great rivals.
Kyrgios revealed that his negative feelings towards the 22-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 stemmed from his time in tennis academies in Australia. According to Kyrgios, Nadal was idolized by many for his relentless work ethic and dedication, which frustrated him. Kyrgios, known for his natural talent but often criticized for his approach to hard work, felt motivated to prove that players could succeed by embracing a more relaxed style.
“I couldn’t stand him. I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around. He was one guy who always motivated me. If I played him, I would get up for it and try and get the best tennis I could possibly play. I didn’t feel that anger towards Federer or Novak when I played them,” Kyrgios said.
The former World No. 13 elaborated that his disdain for Nadal was fueled by how highly the Spaniard was praised in Australian tennis circles. Kyrgios wanted to challenge that narrative by showing that a different, more carefree approach could also lead to success.
“If I played Rafa, because everyone in our academies back home idolized him, they were like he is such a hard worker, he’s this and that. I was like, ‘I can’t stand this guy.’ I wanted to show people you could just have fun and be chilled and beat people like that,” he explained.
Over the course of their rivalry, Kyrgios and Nadal faced each other nine times, with Kyrgios securing three victories. One of their most notable matches occurred at the 2019 Mexican Open in Acapulco, where Kyrgios staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Nadal 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) in the Round of 16. During the match, Kyrgios employed an underarm serve, catching Nadal off guard. The act did not sit well with Nadal, who later criticized Kyrgios for what he perceived as disrespectful behavior.
In his post-match press conference, Nadal expressed his frustration, saying, “He is a player who has huge talent, who could be winning Grand Slams or fighting for first position in the rankings. He lacks respect for the public, the opponent, and himself.”
Kyrgios, however, defended his style of play in response to Nadal’s comments. “That’s the way I play. That’s the way he plays. He’s very slow between points, and the rule of the book says you have to play at the speed of the server,” Kyrgios said.
Looking back on the Acapulco win, Kyrgios referred to the match as an “epic” and highlighted the significance of defeating one of the greatest players of all time.