Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios recently shed light on the challenges he faced in landing endorsement deals during the early stages of his career. Kyrgios, known for his on-court brilliance and occasional outbursts, revealed that he was often perceived as a “villain” in the tennis world, which affected his ability to secure lucrative sponsorship agreements.
Kyrgios burst onto the scene in 2014 when he defeated the likes of Rafael Nadal en route to reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The following year, he added another feather to his cap by defeating the legendary Roger Federer in a memorable Madrid Masters match.
Despite his undeniable tennis talent, Kyrgios’ temperament and on-court meltdowns drew significant attention, overshadowing his remarkable performances. He emphasized that minor incidents, such as smashing a racket during a match, often received disproportionate focus, making it challenging to secure endorsement deals.
Nick Kyrgios says it used to be hard for him to get endorsements because he was painted as a villain:
“I’ve got a lot of endorsements & stuff. With tennis, that hasn’t always been easy to be honest. They’ve painted me as a villain for a long time in my career. When really, I was… pic.twitter.com/VL9vE9SWz3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 13, 2023
Kyrgios expressed that he now feels more embraced by sponsors and the tennis community, believing that they are rooting for his success. His journey highlights the evolving perception of athletes in the public eye, and how personal growth can alter their image and marketability.
Nick Kyrgios in 2023
Ranked no.470, Nick played his last match on the 13th of June when he lost to world no.101 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This year the Australian achieved an overall 0-1 match record.
