Nick Kyrgios speaks on fierce rivalry with Rafael Nadal

Nick Kyrgios, who is due to return to the court in January, recently discussed his heated feelings toward Rafael Nadal following the Spaniard’s recent retirement. In a candid admission, the fiery Australian revealed that he “used to hate and despise” the 22-time Grand Slam champion, particularly during their early encounters on the ATP Tour. The revelation comes just weeks after the 38-year-old, one of tennis’ most decorated players, bid farewell to professional tennis, concluding his illustrious career in Spain’s Davis Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.  

Kyrgios and Nadal faced off nine times during their careers, with the Australian holding a 3-6 record against the Spaniard. But their rivalry was rare in tennis for being contested off the court as it was on it, punctuated by clashes of style and personality. One of the 29-year-old’s most iconic victories came in 2014 at Wimbledon, where a young, unseeded Australian tennis star stunned the Spaniard in the fourth round. Other notable wins followed in Cincinnati (2017) and Acapulco (2019), the latter igniting further tension when Nadal criticized Kyrgios’ perceived lack of respect for the sport and its traditions.

Speaking about his complex relationship with Nadal, Kyrgios revealed the emotions that fueled his performances against the Spanish icon. “I couldn’t stand him,” Kyrgios admitted. “I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around. He was one guy who always motivated me.”  

Kyrgios acknowledged that Nadal’s immense popularity in tennis academies back in Australia, where the Spaniard was revered for his work ethic and discipline, amplified his frustration. “Everyone idolized him. They were like, ‘He’s 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 still beat people like that.”  

Interestingly, Kyrgios shared that this animosity was unique to Nadal, as he did not feel the same way toward Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, two other giants of the sport. “If I played Rafa, I’d get up for it and try to bring my best tennis. I didn’t feel that anger towards Federer or Novak when I played them,” he added, underlining the special edge Nadal brought to their encounters.  

In their heated 2019 Wimbledon clash, Kyrgios faced Nadal in a second-round match filled with drama. At one point, the 2022 Wimbledon Runner up blasted a forehand directly at the 38-year-old during a rally, narrowly missing him. Despite criticism, Kyrgios refused to apologise, stating it was a legitimate play and part of the sport. Nadal ultimately won an intense encounter in four sets.

After a challenging few years marked by injury setbacks,  Kyrgios is finally gearing up for a return to competitive tennis in 2024. The Australian has been sidelined for most of the last two seasons, playing just one ATP-level event in 2023 and 2024 combined. However, fans will be thrilled to see Kyrgios back in action as he begins his comeback at the Brisbane International, joining a field that includes Novak Djokovic.  The former Wimbledon finalist is also slated to compete at the Australian Open, marking his first appearance at the season’s opening Grand Slam since 2022.