THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2022

Nick Kyrgios

Press Conference

N. KYRGIOS/F. Krajinovic

6-2, 6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Nick, great performance today. Give us your thoughts.

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, just super pleased with my performance today. I mean, I played really well from every aspect of my game. So I'm really interested to see what you have today for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We know you like to entertain a crowd. Today was very businesslike from you. Did what happened on Tuesday against Jubb influence that mindset in that you didn't want to give the crowd any reason, no matter how tiny it might be, to get on your back?

NICK KYRGIOS: I don't know. I guess just from a personal performance standpoint, my performance in my first round was just not where I wanted to be, especially with the way I've been playing and the way I've been training, the hard work I've been doing. I was pretty disappointed in my performance in the first round.

Then obviously the media's disrespect and just everything, it was just kind of a reminder to put you all back in your place from the performance today. He made finals at Queen's, top 30 in the world, seeded. It's a gentle reminder.

Q. When you step out to play on the court, do you have an idea of how well you're going to play according to how you're feeling before?

NICK KYRGIOS: I mean, I think everyone kind of feels if they're feeling well physically and mentally, probably going to have a greater chance to have a good performance.

Today from the get-go, I just felt really good. From the back of the court I felt like I really returned well. I was just very just locked in from the get-go today.

I just wanted to, I don't know, just prove to people that, like, I'm really good. I feel like I just don't have the respect sometimes, you know?

Q. Just building on what you just said, was it almost premeditated today, you really want to show your best stuff?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I was just really locked in from the get-go. I just wanted to put on a good performance personally because I just wasn't happy where my level was.

I wanted to just, for myself, know that I'm rewarding myself with the hard work I'm putting in. All the grass court matches I played, I wanted to feel like I was able to showcase it at Wimbledon. I wasn't able to do that in my first round. I was just really rocky and lucky to get through my first round. Today was good.

Q. Congratulations on a wonderful performance.

NICK KYRGIOS: Thanks.

Q. If I could, I did want to follow up on some of the comments, interesting comments, about hatred, abuse, disrespect. You're such a huge Celtics fan. We've seen what they did. It was a great performance overall. The fans did go after Kyrie, they went after Draymond with the F-U comments. Before there have been racial comments to Kyrie. What are your thoughts about all that?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, don't support it at all. But it's just like simply just me eating sushi here the other day, the disrespect, the things I got from that on social media. Oh, he's so rude. He has no manners. I literally played four hours and I needed food. Has anyone in this room played four hours of tennis in their life in a row? No.

I just really wanted to go out there today and just remind everyone that I'm able to play some really good tennis without any distractions. The crowd enjoyed it today. It was just businesslike. That's it.

It's just amazing how quick the media swings.

Q. A quick one about the courts and scheduling. First two matches on Courts 2 and 3. Do you mind which court you play on in these early rounds or do you think you should be on a high-profile court?

NICK KYRGIOS: No, I don't mind what court I play on. I mean, these courts are beautiful. It's probably one of the best tennis centers in the world. I don't mind where I play.

Obviously I feel like if I do manage to play Tsitsipas next round, it will be on a larger court, most likely Court 1.

I'm excited. I feel like we both earned the right. We're two of the biggest stars in the sport. Hopefully if we both bring our best tennis, it's going to be amazing to watch.

Never count that countryman out, Jordan Thompson. He's a fighter. We'll see. We'll see.

Q. It's just been announced that you've withdrawn from the doubles. Can you run us through that? Is it a big disappointment for you that you won't be able to play with Thanasi?

NICK KYRGIOS: You know, this is where the media also spin it. I'm a singles player. My priority has always been singles. I've made quarterfinals here before, I've won singles titles. I've obviously put singles as my priority.

I played nearly four hours in my first round. Me personally, it was just too much time on court. Today I made up for that. But I want to put my singles as my priority. I'm doing what's best for my body.

Q. You said on court that you wanted to show everyone that you're really good. You said that again here. How would you define 'good' and what is 'good' for you?

NICK KYRGIOS: Well, I didn't want to remind people that I'm good; I know that I'm good. I just feel like people just don't give me the respect sometimes because of other things that I do.

There was just nothing the media possibly could tell me I did wrong today. I just know that you can't possibly ask me anything and stir anything up. And I love it because then you can't write anything. What are you going to say? Nothing today. Dumbfounded all of you.

Q. You were like in a bubble today. Nothing seemed to bother you. My question is: How difficult for you is coming on the court with that kind of concentration? When you do that, you're like a player that played two weeks ago the final in Queen's. How difficult is it for you to find that concentration?

NICK KYRGIOS: It's difficult. There's a balance. I'm still having a lot of fun out there playing that level. It's hard at times because I want to put on a show as well. Sometimes I feel like I don't need to do so many extra things to put on a show and make tennis enjoyable. I think the way I played today was as enjoyable as ever.

It's always been a hard balance for me to find. If I can find that tennis a bit more often, we'll see. If I can just continue to play like that, I'm very dangerous.

Q. Do you feel that the media portrayed you wrongly after what happened on Tuesday in any way? How did they disrespect you? You seem very angry towards what has happened.

NICK KYRGIOS: I'm not angry. I'm happy.

Q. And with the investigation into the spitting incident, have you thought about what happened and reflected upon that now? I know you went up to the umpire and said something to the man that you criticized during that game. I'm just wondering what you said to him as well.

NICK KYRGIOS: Why would you be asking me a question about two days ago? Is it because you have no story for today?

Q. No, no. I'm asking you because there's a current investigation.

NICK KYRGIOS: But I played Filip Krajinovic today. Do you not want to know how I played today?

Q. I saw you play today. You were fantastic.

NICK KYRGIOS: Then why don't you ask me a question about it?

Q. Because there's an investigation.

NICK KYRGIOS: Are you investigating it personally?

Q. No.

NICK KYRGIOS: So why do you care?

Q. Because it involves you.

NICK KYRGIOS: I'm still in Wimbledon right now.

Q. Exactly.

NICK KYRGIOS: So let's talk about that.

Q. Why don't you want to talk about it?

NICK KYRGIOS: Because I've spoken about it.

Q. When you focus and you feel like that, serve like that, how far can you go in this tournament? Can you win it?

NICK KYRGIOS: As I said, just day by day. I got a day off tomorrow. I'm going to get a good practice in, see who my next opponent is and just prepare for whatever challenge lies ahead. That's it.

Q. You said you're concentrated on singles. You're in a very good position with Thanasi to make the ATP Finals. Is there no goal?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think we are in the Finals.

Q. Because you won?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think so.

Q. Are you willing to play them?

NICK KYRGIOS: We will play, yeah.

Q. What do you consider your defining personality characteristics when you do put on the show that you described earlier?

NICK KYRGIOS: I just feel like I'm comfortable in my own skin. Some people, like, love to just tear me down. It's just not possible anymore. I just want to give people who watch this press conference or watch my tennis to just believe in yourself, be yourself, don't be someone else up here either. Don't just say what you've been told to say.

I couldn't care less if there is an investigation about me doing that, to be brutally honest with you. I know what I bring to the sport. One of the most important people in the sport. Do you want to speak about that? Nothing to investigate there because it's just factual.

So, yeah, I'm extremely confident in myself. All the challenges I've overcome in my life. Proud to be up here and doing it my own way. Being able to produce tennis like that at Wimbledon, it's a dream come true for any tennis player.

Q. On the disrespect that you faced from the fans, sort of more rowdy crowds that we've perhaps seen this year in terms of chants. Do you think fans are breaking the Wimbledon etiquette this year, becoming a bit more like a football crowd, nowhere near that right now, but...

NICK KYRGIOS: I don't think -- I don't mind when crowds get up and about and support. Obviously if there's a wild card, and they're locals, they want to see their countrymen do well. I'm all for that. I'm all for fans to be as loud as they want. But just there's a line I think of disrespect where this is not acceptable in any sport.

But I think rowdiness and loudness and atmosphere is what's beautiful about this sport. It's like one-on-one without the contact. You're playing in some of the great stadiums in the world.

I think Jubb would have loved that atmosphere out there. He'll remember that. So much room to learn. Next time he's in that, he might come through with a win.

I think for all these locals that are wild cards, I was once there. I loved the crowd. It's something I never forgot. Just the way I learnt how to deal with those emotions, the roller coaster ride, it's good for the sport I think.

I think the sport needs it in a way. You look at all the other sports around the world, so entertaining to watch. Tennis I think needs a bit more interaction from the crowd. It's got to be within the lines, I think.

Q. Do you think it's better for tennis that you come through that game today with no conflict with line officials? Does that make you feel happier in yourself?

NICK KYRGIOS: I'm just proud of my performance. There's so many times where I've had absolute battles, and I played some phenomenal tennis, and the media tends to just pick and choose anyway what they want to write about.

Today there's just absolutely nothing, which is hilarious, because I've played so many matches where I've given my all and nearly beaten, just come up short, and there's only one thing you guys write about.

Today, enjoy it. Watch it back. I hope you just love my tennis today, just all watch the highlights, and write about that.