THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 26, 2022

Nick Kyrgios

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Nick, how does it feel to be back playing in front of a full crowd at Wimbledon?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, super excited. Obviously been playing some really good tennis on the grass. Feeling good. Mentally feeling ready. Just excited to be here.

Obviously another Grand Slam. Never going to take it for granted. When I was young, never thought I'd play almost 30-plus Grand Slams. Super proud to be here again. It's a special energy here, of course.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Nick, you pulled out of Halle.

NICK KYRGIOS: Mallorca.

Q. Mallorca, sorry. How do you feel now? Do you feel the number of matches you've had on grass, the nine matches, that's standing you in good stead?

NICK KYRGIOS: Definitely. Obviously from a load standpoint, I played a lot of tennis. I don't think anyone kind of expected that. Probably the only player that's going to have a two-month break in the middle of the year, then come back for the grass.

I've played a lot of matches. Had some great results. Beaten some really good players. I'm just happy where my level's at.

I think I've had probably some of the best preparation I've had for a while on the grass. Yeah, load-wise I'm happy with the amount of tennis I played.

Obviously Mallorca, had to pull out because the body, I could feel it getting a bit tired. There's no ranking points this week, but it's still a week I wanted to have highlighted, you know, put all my focus into, so...

Q. Nick, obviously you had that break after the American swing between April and June. Talk a bit about how important it was to have a bit of downtime to have a chance to spend time with friends and family, how important that sort of element is to your schedule at the moment?

NICK KYRGIOS: I mean, that's who I am. I don't want to be the type of player that's going to play all year long. I think living in Australia - I've said it so many times - it's so hard to find the balance between spending time with your family, friends, having that kind of normal lifestyle.

I don't want to be spending seven, eight months on the road anymore. I just don't want to be doing that. It's not something I really care about. Rankings and all that, it's not something I chase. I've played top-10 players in the world this year and made them look pretty ordinary.

I mean, look, I know where my game's at. I know if I'm feeling confident, I'm playing well, I'm able to just light it up kind of whenever I want.

But I've just got to pick and choose. I don't play that often. When I play now, I've got to make sure I'm having some good results, putting my best effort. If I'd figured that out earlier in my career, maybe the narrative may have been different.

But I'm proud to be where I'm at at the moment.

Q. With all the Aussies getting through, 15 I think we've got here, how does that help you in terms of some of your close mates being here as well? Some qualified. How does that help you over the fortnight? Do you relax into it or is it a boost?

NICK KYRGIOS: I mean, I've known they're all capable of doing that. You look at Thanasi, Thompson, Millman, de Minaur, Duckworth, they're all capable of playing at top-50 level. I've grown up and seen it. I almost believe in them more than they believe in themselves at times.

I practiced with Tomo yesterday. We had such a high-level practice. He's playing I think, I believe, like top-20, top-25 tennis on the grass. Then I want to see them kind of break through. I think they're capable of that.

So I wouldn't say it gives me confidence. But at the same time I know what they're capable of. Like, if I had to play one of them, I played Tomo here, and I wasn't happy about it. We had a five-set match.

I know what they're capable of. I wouldn't be surprised if any of them had a breakthrough week. They've just got to believe. As I said, if they had a bit more belief, who knows how far they'd go.

Q. If people go crazy with an underarm serve, how would you imagine that they will react, the tennis world, if you win a Grand Slam?

NICK KYRGIOS: They would still say something negative (smiling).

I don't know. I don't want to think about it. I'm just going about my stuff day by day, trying to be positive.

Q. I want to ask you about two things strongly associated with Wimbledon and get your thoughts on them. One is Centre Court. Wondering if you remember the first time you ever saw it, maybe went in to watch a match, whatever the case might have been, what your impressions were of Centre Court. The other is the requirement to have all white clothing. I'm wondering what you think of that, if you have an opinion on that tradition here.

NICK KYRGIOS: I wasn't the type of player to watch much tennis when I was really young. The first time I stepped out on it was obviously when I played Rafa here 2014, 2015, I'm not sure. Obviously I have good memories of that court. I've played on it again.

Yeah, it's an amazing court. Special energy about it. Obviously when you're about to walk out there, you think about all the past champions and the history of every kind of tennis player, their problems, their struggles to get to that moment. It's a pretty special court. So many different personalities have stepped out there and achieved some amazing things.

But as for the clothes, I think, I mean, I always want to wear all black, obviously (smiling). But, you know, I don't think it's something that's going to change. I don't know. I think it would be cool to allow, like, a black headband or black sweatband. I think it would look cool. Obviously Wimbledon doesn't really care what looks cool.

So, yeah, I don't know. I don't think it will ever change.

Q. What are your thoughts on Wimbledon's decision to ban the Russian and Belarusian players, then the tour's to take away the ranking points?

NICK KYRGIOS: I mean, my honest opinion, I don't think it was a good idea to ban the Russian players to play. I think Medvedev is the best we have in our sport right now. You look at some of their other players - Rublev, Khachanov - they're important young players for our sport to continue to grow.

I think whenever we have cameras on and a lot of people tuning in, you want our best players to be on showcase for the sport to grow.

Me personally as a competitor and someone that wants to go up against them, I'm disappointed they're not here. It's weird not seeing Medvedev here. We all know what he's capable of.

But look, it's done now. I'm sure that they're going to be tuning in and watching, wishing they were here. They wanted to play. They just want to be a part of it. I'm disappointed they're not here.

But as for the ranking points, I don't really know. I just think it's strange. I don't know. I don't particularly play in tournaments for ranking points. You're probably not asking the right person.

But I think, you know, as a kid, when I watched Wimbledon, when I wanted to play it, I wasn't thinking about ranking points. I was thinking about playing in the most prestigious tournament in the world. That's all I'm here for.

There's people that are: I'm not going to play Wimbledon because of ranking points. I'm going to go play a challenger that week. When I'm sitting with my kids in the future, I'm not going to be proud to say I played a challenger instead of Wimbledon.

I will choose to play Wimbledon every day of the week.

Q. What you were saying about good performances against top-10 players, do you feel like you can beat literally anybody in the draw on your day?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah.

Q. What's the key to maybe that and then doing it over the seven matches in a slam?

NICK KYRGIOS: Good sleep, good rest. I think that's one. Make sure your body's in good nick.

For me, I just know if I'm serving well and I'm playing well, I can beat anyone. I have pretty much beaten everyone in the draw before.

Yeah, it's hard. It's like not many people have gotten over the hump of winning a slam. I'm one of the people that has to deal with that every week. Like, Oh, he's probably one of the biggest wastes of talent. He should be winning a slam.

Not many people have actually gotten over that hump in singles. It's obviously something I want to get over, and hopefully one day.

I know from a confidence standpoint, I'm never low on that. I've had some good runs here at Wimbledon, at the Australian Open. I've always run into someone that's pretty much in their prime. I played Murray here in the fourth round when he won the final 4-4-4. He was in his prime. My draw was ridiculously tough to get there.

I think honestly the best chance I ever had to win a slam was in 2015 when I made the quarterfinals. I had Raonic in the quarterfinals, up a set and a break. That's as close as I've been.

I think I need to focus on the earlier rounds, make sure I get it done as quick as possible. I'm not even thinking about winning it or anything at the moment. I got another couple days to just practice and feel good, then we'll see what happens.

Q. Wondering how much you know about your first-round opponent, Paul Jubb, and his story? You've been back at a Grand Slam first time in Australia, you had so much fun playing in the doubles there. Will you try to bring that same sort of feeling here or is it different for the singles?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think pretty much wherever I play, the crowd knows I'm going to try and bring a lot of energy, bring a lot of flair and entertainment. I think that's just something I come with now. I can't really get rid of that. It's just something I want to do as well.

As for my opponent, I feel like I can put myself in his shoes very well. I was once that kid that got a wild card at the Australian Open. Felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype. I know how he's going to be feeling. He's going to go out there and he's going to just play freely, nothing to lose.

Being in that position, I loved it. I was an underdog every time I walked out there. I had no pressure. So I know it's going to be a dangerous match. It's not always easy to be the favorite, just sweep aside someone. Never. I've had matches like that and it hasn't gone well.

I know I just got to ride the waves emotionally out there because the crowd is obviously going to be behind the local. I'm used to wearing that kind of black hat, the villain-type role. I'm going to embrace it. I'm just going to go out there and play the game.

If you look at the results I've had the last couple weeks, if I just stick to my guns, the results say I should win pretty easy. I know it's not going to be the case. I've got to be pretty focused.

Q. Getting back to the question about the doubles. We spoke with Thanasi a couple days ago who was quite confident of being able to recreate that energy you generated in January, including the shoeys. He's urging the crowd to do that. Is Wimbledon ready for the shoey?

NICK KYRGIOS: Look, I don't think of a place where so much alcohol is being consumed before in Great Britain (smiling).

I think they will be ready, but I just don't know if it's the right setting. But look, you never know.

Look, all my focus is in the singles at the moment. It's not easy being me every day. Social media and all this expectation, trying to make sure I feel good for my hour practice with everything going on, it's exhausting.

I don't know if I'm going to put any sort of focus into my doubles yet. I'm just really trying to get my preparations right and feel good about myself and be positive about my singles. Whatever happens happens there.

Doubles, we'll obviously have fun, but I'm not focused on that right now.

Q. We spoke to Andy yesterday. He referenced his recent match against you as one he's particularly proud of, particularly the first set. First of all as your friend, I'm sure you're glad to see him back. As a pro player, what's coming back at you from Andy Murray? Where is his level?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think he's one of the most dangerous players on grass still. I definitely think the way he can handle speed, return, compete, slice, volley, as long as his body is feeling well, I don't want to see him on the grass at all.

I'm playing unbelievable tennis at the moment. That first set was as good a level as anyone can produce on the grass. I know what he's capable of. Yeah, I hope he's feeling good because he's obviously able to do damage on the grass. I think anywhere.

His ranking is around 50. It's not easy to be 50 in this world. No one in this room has been top 50 apart from Todd Woodbridge. I saw him look up (smiling).

He's good. Is that enough? Any more (smiling)?

Q. You guys still close, yeah?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, yeah. I mean, he beat me in Stuttgart, then he sent me a message of us on the roller coaster. I think that means we're pretty close.

Q. You've had some amazing experiences here from defeating Nadal in 2014 to playing the mixed alongside a legend like Venus Williams. How come you've never played the men's doubles here before? How excited are you to enjoy that brand-new experience with your best mate Thanasi?

NICK KYRGIOS: To be honest, I'm not really looking forward to playing best-of-five set doubles. I think it's the stupidest thing ever, to be brutally honest. I don't know why it's best-of-five sets. No one wants to play best-of-five sets doubles. No one wants to watch best-of-five sets doubles.

I'm excited, but I'm also dreading the fact that if it's one set all, I'm going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles. So I don't know. That's why I haven't played it before. It doesn't make sense.

I've always gone pretty well here in singles, so I'm not going to on my off day play potentially five sets of doubles, yeah.