‘I Used to Hide the Rackets’ – Nick Kyrgios Opens up on His Childhood Fear as He Revisits His Gruelling ‘Growing Up’ Days

In the world of tennis, athletes often secure the personal narratives that shaped their careers. Amidst the applause and heated matches, there are often some incidents that remain hidden. Nick Kyrgios, known for his aggressive gaming style, recently peeled back a layer of his journey that had long remained hidden from his fans.

In a recent podcast, Nick Kyrgios went ahead to reveal a side of his personality that is not known to many. He went ahead to talk about how scared he was of his father while he was growing up. He further went ahead to talk about how his success on the tennis court helped him control his actions.

Nick Kyrgios reflects on how scared he was of his father

Nick Kyrgios opens up about his relationship with his father and how it shaped his emotional journey on the tennis court. The young Kyrgios, eager to evade repercussions, used to hide the damaged rackets. However, this did not work and he found himself drawn to explosive outbursts.

However, Kyrgios’ perspective shifted over time. He remembers the transformation by reflecting on the correlation between his emotional control and on-court success. The fear that once triggered his behavior eventually evolved into a catalyst for self-discipline. He further talks about how last year, which was possibly the best year of his career was and how he did not break any rackets.

“I was always scared of my dad, when I was growing up playing. I knew if I broke a racket or, you know, came back with a scratch on it, I was in for it. I used to just hide the rackets that would get damaged. And then, obviously didn’t work, because then I became trigger happy. And with my rackets and just look, last year, the best year of my career, and I barely broke one. So I mean, I guess there’s some correlation,” said Kyrgios in the interview.

Thus, Nick Kyrgios reflects on how scared he was of his father back then and how things eventually made him a better man. He learned how to control his anger which further paved the way for his success on the tennis courts. In another podcast with Mike Tyson, Nick reflected on a moment where he revealed how his father broke his heart when he was just 14.

Also read: Controversial Aussie Star Nick Kyrgios Hints at Early Retirement as ‘Queen’ Girlfriend Charms Him With Her Beauty

Nick reveals how his father once broke his heart

When he was young, Nick was an exceptional basketball player. He was someone who loved playing both basketball and tennis. But, should he make his journey to the top, he had to put all his eggs in one basket and completely focus on one sport. That is when his dad came ahead and suggested that he should go for tennis.

“Until the age of 14, I trained and regularly put the ball in the basket, and then my father told me that I was done with basketball and that I should devote all my energy to tennis. That broke my heart,” said Kyrgios.

This was one moment that actually broke Nick Kyrgios as he had to give up on the game that he liked very much. But, it eventually paid him off as he went ahead to create a career that many would have dreamt of. Thus, throughout his journey as a professional player and beyond, Nick’s father has been a constant guide.

Watch this story: ‘Don’t Mind Getting A Bit Dirty’ – Aussie Star Nick Kyrgios Explores The ‘Roger Federer’ Connection To Wimbledon And His Nasty Desire To Win