THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2021

Nick Kyrgios

Press Conference

N. KYRGIOS/U. Humbert

6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 9-7

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It was a cracking match across both nights. Really good to watch. There was one kind of hairy moment where you fell over late in that fifth set. Looked like the match could be over at that point. What was going through your mind at that moment? Having seen perhaps yesterday Serena and Mannarino fall, was it particularly slippy? Were you worried having seen what happened in those matches?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, you know, you kind of always expect the grass to bring out those moments where you get wrong-footed. It's happened to me before. I actually slipped at Queen's once.

But, yeah, look, I'm not sure, I think it was 6-All in the fifth or something, 5-All in the fifth, where I was always going to get up and play. I made it that far. I haven't been playing many tournaments. I'm here. No matter if it was something bad, I was always going to get up and play. With one leg, I was going to finish the match.

But, yeah, just resilient, man. I really enjoyed being out there. Again, he's a hell of a player. It could have gone completely his way. There was only a couple of fault points in it. He's going to do some special, special things in this sport.

Yeah, my hip's fine. Very lucky. Obviously it's devastating to see some big names go out due to an injury like slipping on the court. Mannarino was putting on a great match against Federer. Obviously seeing Serena, the legend, go down, it's not easy. I'm very lucky it wasn't nothing too severe.

Q. What day did you actually arrive in the UK? I know most players would probably have a tough time getting ready in that short space. You obviously had confidence you'd be able to bring your level right away. What was it like to make that short turnaround?

NICK KYRGIOS: I got here four days before the event started. I'm not sure what day that was.

Yeah, look, a lot of people were telling me there's no chance, there's no point in you going with that short preparation. I was hearing a load of things.

I think it was Gilbert telling me, There's no chance you can come off the couch and compete at this level against players.

I'm like, Dude, I know my game, I know how to play on grass. I'm not scared of anyone in the draw. I know if I believe and I'm feeling good mentally, like, I know what I'm capable of.

I know that three, four days, a week, doesn't matter for me. A week preparation is not going to change. I've been playing this sport since I was seven years old. Like, three, two days, I could have two days, it doesn't matter. I'm going to go out there and give it. I'm going to serve big and play big, and just compete.

Like the amount of people who told me my preparation was not good enough, you're not good enough or anything, I don't really care what anyone says. I'm my own person. I prepare the way I prepare and it worked.

Q. If I may take you back to the slipping incident. I know you were saying you'd play on one leg if you had to. Has there been much talk among the field at-large about everybody slipping over? You mentioned Serena, and Novak slipped a couple of times. Are there some concerns, curiosity, about why it's happening, some worries about players getting seriously injured, that someone may have to play on one leg perhaps?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I mean, look, I don't think the rain helps, especially the outside courts. When the grass gets slippery, a bit unpredictable where the grass is a little slippery, where you can't really see any of that stuff.

Look, it's just sometimes what happens on the grass. Especially I think the game's evolved now where there's so many rallies and players are so capable of making so many returns, making that extra ball, where the body's actually not supposed to be in those positions type thing. People slip over and injuries happen.

The load as well. Like, these players have played a lot of matches. The tennis schedule is brutal, it's absolutely brutal. You have the French Open, straight on the grass, and you're just expected to bring out your best tennis from week to week.

Look, I don't know if there's a solution. It just is what it is on the grass. On the clay, it's obviously you got the sliding, it's a bit more safer. The grass has just got that unpredictable factor where it's tough. There's no guarantee that any time you go out there you could be injured. It is what it is, you know.

It's tough to say because obviously Serena, she's like the G.O.A.T. You know what I mean? It's tough to say it is what is. Unfortunately it's, like, the grass. It's tough.

Q. How painful was it when you went down? Looked like you were in agony.

NICK KYRGIOS: Oh, yeah, look, I'm not the most flexible bloke. Any time my legs spread a little bit apart, I'm like, Ah. Going down, it was pretty brutal. It hurt. My hip hurt.

As I said, I just got back up and showed some resilience. Comes with age.

Q. Did you miss the competition? Looked like you really enjoyed the theater of playing competitive tennis again. Have you missed it in the past six months?

NICK KYRGIOS: Man, I compete every day. I compete when I play checkers. I compete when I play Call of Duty. I compete when I play basketball. I have the competitive sort of -- I get that thrill with anything I do. My friends back home can definitely vouch for that. When I play this game called SEQUENCE, I'm very competitive.

But, yeah, obviously going out there and playing Wimbledon on Court 1, packed crowd, against one of the best players in the world at the moment, one of the most in-form players, it's a lot of fun. I enjoy going out there.

Yesterday the crowd was thanking me. They're like, Thank you, Nick, for keeping me so entertained.

I'm like, I'm doing my best.

So I'll continue to go out there and try and give them a show and just try and bring that different aspect of tennis. A lot of people wanted me to play because of that.

I'm here, I'm trying to give you what I've got. That's that.

Q. The results in the past two hours, Jordan Thompson, James Duckworth, Ajla Tomljanovic, and then you in the space of two hours. A pretty special afternoon for Australian tennis.

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, definitely. Led by Ash Barty. Australian tennis right now, I strongly believe -- there was that window where there wasn't so many players, and then now we've got such good depth. Obviously it's tough to see de Minaur and Millman go out.

But that quality playing, we saw Alex win Eastbourne. Bittersweet going out first round here.

But like Ducks, Tomo, great to see Tomo. I think that's his first match at Wimbledon he's won here. It's incredible to see such success. Marc Polmans is winning rounds. It's sick. We've got so much depth. I feel when I retire, when that day comes, I think I'm leaving tennis in good hands.

I feel old. When I was playing Humbert, this guy is like fearless. These young guys are just fearless. I'm like, Dude, I'm getting old. Body-wise I feel old.

Yeah, Aussie tennis is in good hands at the moment, I think.

Q. Obviously usually when you're here, you like to get out and about.

NICK KYRGIOS: The Dog & Fox, baby.

Q. Seen you there before. I wondered with the bubble, what are you doing to ensure you don't get too bored or frustrated? We've seen this year someone like Benoit Paire struggling with life inside the bubble.

NICK KYRGIOS: That's why I didn't play most of the year. I made the decision that I know myself and I don't bullshit to myself. I know that, Nick, are you going to be in a good mental space over this year to go week in, week out in the bubble environment? I said, No. That's why I didn't play for very long.

Obviously I didn't think playing during COVID was a smart thing. But, yeah, that's why this week I brought my girlfriend, I brought my best friend. I wanted to bring two people that I trusted, that I was very comfortable around, that made me feel good. Take it week by week. Next week I got it off. Obviously U.S. is open.

But, yeah, look, anyone that's in the bubble, I commend them for their efforts. It's not easy. It's not easy to disconnect tennis. Usually you can go back to your house in the Wimbledon Village, go for a walk, just disconnect.

To have good results week in, week out in the bubble, you're very resilient. I got to give props to these guys. They love it. They love the sport. It's not easy. It's not easy at all.

Yesterday I was here at 12. I warmed up. I was here all day. Finished, got back to my hotel at 1. In a bubble. Woke up, got back here. It's not easy.

Yeah, like Benoit, he's his own man, too. He makes his own decisions. Like he said, he doesn't owe anything to anyone. He plays for himself. That's what he does. It's up to him. It's all good.

Q. A question about movement.

NICK KYRGIOS: Movement? Very interesting person to ask about movement (smiling).

Q. Pardon me?

NICK KYRGIOS: I said I'm a very interesting person to ask about movement (laughter).

Q. How important is it to you to feel confident and not have to process or think or worry about your footing in this surface to play the style of tennis you do so well?

NICK KYRGIOS: Well, I definitely think being Australian, growing up on the grass, helps. I played a lot of grass court matches when I was a junior. We have a couple grass courts tournaments in Australia at a young age. I think I developed my grass court game quite early. There's some dodgy grass courts back in Australia. You have to have pretty decent footwork.

But, like, I feel like I genuinely know. My instincts on grass are quite good. I know when to kind of sneak forward or try my chip return and stuff like that. For me it kind of comes quite naturally. I'm sure Jordan Thompson would say the same. I played every tournament Jordan did. We kind of grew up on the grass.

For other players, European players, it might be tougher. They are probably trying to work on their footwork patterns.

For me it comes quite easy. To be honest, I have shocking footwork. Probably should never ask me that question ever again. That is probably more a Diego Schwartzman type thing.

But, yeah, I think it comes more naturally for me.

Q. And don't forget Bolty. Playing this match today, what was it actually like to play? There were so many extraordinary shots and points in the match. What was it like being in the thick of it? Also when you look at last night, the match was suspended at 3-All at 5 till 11. Your thoughts on that aspect, as well?

NICK KYRGIOS: First of all, we got told at the start of the match that 11 was the curfew. I kind of knew in the back of my mind that's when the match was going to stop.

Bolty, unbelievable performance. I think he's definitely a danger player. I practiced with him before, played a set. I feel like the thing that was holding Bolty back was he wasn't quite sure what his game was. Now I feel he definitely knows what patterns are successful for him.

He's more confident I think around. When I see him, he's more confident in himself, more confident in his game. I definitely noticed that. I think he's definitely going to be a tough match for anyone that is going next. I think Cam Norrie is playing him. Two guys that are dangerous.

It is just good to see Bolty having success. He's always had that ability and the talent to be here. He's always been a hard worker. He's been a good mate, as well. I remember when we were playing futures in China together when there was an earthquake. I was dead asleep. He was all waking me up, shaking me. We go way back, too.

To be in the thick of the match was awesome. Obviously that's where you want to be: Court 1, packed crowds, playing some decent tennis. I'm surprised I'm playing that well after not -- if I had a day to day Go Pro on my head back home, to now, it's pretty incredible to see how different it is.

Q. About playing mixed with Venus Williams, how did it come about? How do you feel about it? Are you looking to learn anything from her? She said yesterday she's open to giving you any advice you'd like from her.

NICK KYRGIOS: Well, let's not get this twisted. There was an interview that Venus took, and she got asked, Who would your dream doubles partner be?

She said, Nick Kyrgios.

Look, I'm willing to give her any tips she wants. No, no, no, I'm just kidding (laughter).

She's obviously a legend. To see her still gracing the courts of Wimbledon, winning matches at 41... At 41, I don't think I'll be able to honestly hit another ball. She's a legend.

We've been planning to play for a while now at Grand Slams. It just never worked out. I'm not sure how long she'll play for, so before she kind of gives it up, I do want to experience playing with one of the Williams sisters in mixed doubles. Honestly that's like a dream come true for me.

They've been around for so, so long. I think it will be a bit of fun. I think we're a bit of a danger pair as well if we serve well. The crowd will definitely get behind us. She's a legend.

Maybe she can teach me some of that calm, the water-type energy that's out there. I'm just going to go out there and have fun. She's an absolute legend of the sport. I'm super excited. I can tell she's excited, too.

I don't think she ever thought back in the day she'd be playing mixed doubles with the bad boy of tennis, so we'll see how it goes.