Nick Kyrgios is one of tennis’ most outspoken individuals in recent memory, and whilst he almost always divides opinions, his impact on the sport is undeniable.
His unique and energetic brand has certainly drawn plenty more eyes to a sport that, at times, has been accused of being elitist and unwilling to move with the times.
Fortunately, that is a problem that seems to be healing, and Nick Kyrgios certainly deserves some credit for providing some impetus with his outspokenness both on and off the court.
Now, speaking exclusively to Tennishead, he has delivered his thoughts on a whole host of hot topics from within the WTA Tour, just after Kyrgios had discussed Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s dominance of the ATP Tour.
Nick Kyrgios discusses Serena Williams’ comeback
The affable Australian began with Serena Williams.
After all, although it remains unconfirmed by the legend herself, rumours refuse to go away about her potential comeback to the sport.
Does Serena Williams win a WTA title or Grand Slam title if she comes back to tennis?
Speaking about the 23-time Grand Slam champion, and how she might fare in the current WTA climate if she did return, Kyrgios admitted: “Athletes are getting better every year. It’s hard to say.
“She’s the tennis GOAT, and everyone is chasing her. It’ll be cool to see her back just to watch her again, regardless of the results, to be honest. But don’t underestimate what 23 Slams does for the mental game, she’s been through all the trenches in tennis and knows exactly what it takes to win.”
Serena continues to practice with a current WTA player behind the scenes, although whenever asked, she attests that any rumours of her comeback are just that: rumours.
Nick Kyrgios says if he thinks women could play best-of-five sets
Kyrgios can never be accused of shying away from controversial topics.
It’s part of the reason why he has developed such a cult following on the tennis tour, because of his openness that few of his contemporaries have ever shared.
Do you think women should play best-of-five set matches?
The concept of women playing best-of-five sets at Grand Slams is one of many concepts that might be considered taboo for the bulk of the ATP Tour, but not for Kyrgios.
Whilst he wholeheartedly backs the women to be able to achieve this, he actually proposed a change to the men’s game instead: “Yes, women can play best-of-five sets. But honestly, that’s not the main issue.
“Men could play best-of-three sets until the quarterfinals and then best-of-five. That would solve all the scheduling issues at Grand Slams, lead to more upsets, allow fans to watch more matches in a day—the list goes on.”
The hope is that we will soon see the 31-year-old back on the tennis court at the professional level, having endured a torrid past few years laden with injury.
However, in his absence from the sport, pickleball has become his latest fascination, with Kyrgios promoting his new partnerships with Picklr and Vulcan, both of which promise to completely reshape the landscape of this rapidly growing racket sport.
Coco Gauff defended by Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios concluded by discussing Coco Gauff, who dominated headlines after her exit at the Australian Open for reasons beyond her control.
Having lost handily to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, the American was magnanimous on court, congratulating her opponent and departing with grace.
However, as she entered the bowels of the Rod Laver Arena, where she felt she was safe from prying eyes, Gauff unleashed a match-worth of fury on her racket, smashing it against the concrete floor.
With cameras everywhere nowadays, this incident was videoed and widely disseminated, much to her frustration.
Kyrgios’ final words to us threw his support behind Gauff, as he claimed: “Look, for the sport to grow, it needs access—but not into every inch of our lives. There needs to be spaces where we can get away, relax, and let off some steam without being crucified for it.
“I stand with Coco; I think she did nothing wrong. She loves the game and showed how much it meant to her—what’s the issue?”
