“Ok With Not Winning Grand Slams”: Nick Kyrgios Reflects on Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic?s Success

The Wimbledon Championships this year has already seen a lot of top-seeded upsets from both the men’s and women’s singles draw, one surprising aspect is the continual success of Nick Kyrgios. The Australian star player has moved to the third-round at SW19 after ousting the Brazilian Gianluca Mager in straight sets 7-6,6-4,6-4.

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Kyrgios, who didn’t play much tennis ever since tennis came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, has looked really good in his two performances at Wimbledon.

Nick Kyrgios successfully reached the third-round at Wimbledon 2021

Known to be naturally gifted to play tennis, the Aussie has always considered himself to be an entertainer rather than an athlete who plays to win titles. In fact, it is this aspect of Kyrgios that garners a lot of attention to his matches.

His matchup against Ugo Humbert in the first-round at SW19 had seen the Britain going frenzy over the Australian for his flamboyant playing style. While a fair share of fans still believe that the Aussie can be a serious threat to top stars if he takes tennis seriously, Kyrgios believes that he believes in entertaining people more than winning matches.

Talking after his second round victory against Mager, Nick Kyrgios mentioned the greatness of Big-3(Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer) and how it’s impossible for others to live up to their high standards.

“They’re just gods” – Kyrgios on Big-3

“These are once-in-a-decade athletes that inspire millions of people. They’re just gods. I see them as that, too. You have to have some people, I believe, that are relatable, that people can bring other fans to watch, people that are just normal. I feel I’m 1 of those people”,?Kyrgios said.

The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist also felt that people shouldn’t be expecting grand slam titles from him as he plays tennis the way he wants to.

“I’m ok with not winning Grand Slams. I know that’s going to make a lot of people angry. He should be doing this. But I shouldn’t though. It’s not your life, it’s mine. I’m ok with just enjoying myself, putting on a show. Not everyone can be a Federer or Djokovic”,?the Aussie concluded.

While next-gen players like Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are striving hard to win a grand slam title by defeating Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, it’s unfortunate that a highly-talented player like Nick Kyrgios doesn’t feel to be as competitive as his peers are on the ATP tour.

All things said and done, it’s always a great privilege to witness Kyrgios determined to win matches and he appears to be in the right groove at Wimbledon this fortnight.

Also read: WATCH: Nick Kyrgios Does His Regular ?Fans Embracing? Ritual on Match Point at Wimbledon Championships 2021