Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios has long been hailed as a prodigious talent in the sport, yet his career has been marked by unfulfilled potential and frustration, notably expressed by tennis legend John McEnroe.
Kyrgios’ early reluctance to fully commit to the demands of professional tennis hindered his progress, leading to missed opportunities and disappointments. However, in recent years, he has dedicated himself to rigorous fitness and practice, yielding significant improvements in his game.
The pinnacle of Kyrgios’ resurgence came with his memorable appearance in the Wimbledon final a few years ago, where he showcased his talent by winning the opening set against the formidable Novak Djokovic.
Despite his commendable performance, Kyrgios fell short of clinching victory in the match, an outcome that continues to linger in his mind. Reflecting on the experience, Kyrgios acknowledges the significance of Wimbledon in his career aspirations, expressing regret over his inability to secure victory in the prestigious tournament.
“I won the first set and I’m two sets away… I feel like I still think about that match every day like what if I had played those two sets better like I won five sets in a row against Novak,” Kyrgios remarked candidly on his podcast.
Kyrgios humorously laments the challenging era he faced, contending with the dominance of tennis titans such as Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray in their prime. He jests that being born a few years later might have spared him from contending with such formidable opponents in every fourth round.
“My era was so tough like, when I was 21-22, playing prime Novak, Nadal, Federer, and Murray, every fourth round, if you think about it, they were unbeatable,” Kyrgios quipped, highlighting the daunting task he faced as a young player.
Despite the setbacks and what-ifs, Kyrgios remains determined to make his mark in tennis, fueled by his passion for the sport and the desire to achieve his Wimbledon dream.
In conclusion, Nick Kyrgios’ reflections offer a glimpse into the challenges and aspirations of a talented athlete grappling with unfulfilled potential and the pursuit of glory on tennis’s grandest stage.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Now the world no.470, Kyrgios played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he capitulated to world no.298 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This season Nick has an overall 0-1 record.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
Ranked world no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 11th of March when he was overcome by world no.75 Luca Nardi 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in Indian Wells (draw).
During this season Novak has managed to achieve a 8-3 record. Novak Djokovic’s best achievement of the present season was getting to the semifinal at the Australian Open.
Djokovic will compete next in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (Monte–Carlo). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 7th of April.
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic played each other 3 times. The head to head is 2-1 for Kyrgios. The last time they competed against each other, Novak Djokovic won 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in London (Wimbledon) in July 2022.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic |
Embed from Getty Images |