“He Did Things Which Were Not Right For Kids”- Rafael Nadal Reveals Reason Behind Criticizing Nick Kyrgios

Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios had a barn burner in the fourth round of the Australian Open. In a match full of emotions, Rafa was able to battle past the gritty Australian.

Though there were some moments of heat during the match (breaking his racquet), Kyrgios displayed a very sanitized attitude.

This made sure that he had earned Rafa’s respect by the end of the match. Nadal clarified in the press conference that a well behaved Kyrgios was best for business.

What Did Rafael Nadal Say?

Rafa was full of praise for Kyrgios post the match. The Spaniard claimed that when Kyrgios is focused on his game and not other shenanigans, he was a valuable commodity for the sport of tennis. This meant that the Australian was an efficient crowd puller.

Know More – WATCH: Tony Nadal Angry At Rafael Nadal After Double Fault

However, Rafa clarified why he has been critical of Kyrgios in the past-

“When I criticized him in the past, it was because I thought he did a couple of things which are not right and are not the right image for our sport and for the kids.”

However, the Spaniard was very clear about one fact. Whenever Kyrgios does the right things, Rafa will be the first to vouch for him.

“Personally, I saw him play for the whole tournament and during the match. He has been great. Personally, I like to watch him play. His talent is to be one of the best in the world, to fight for every tournament”.

Know More – All You Need To Know About Rafael Nadal’s Diet

These are big words coming from a star like Nadal. Not only is Rafa the world no 1, but he also has not had the best relationship with Kyrgios. The two stars have been at loggerheads for the majority of their careers. From Nadal calling Kyrgios disrespectful to Kyrgios calling him salty, they have had a tense rivalry.

However, as it should happen, they earned each other’s respect on the court. Both men realized that the other player deserved applause just for their game.

We look forward to many more interesting Kyrgios-Nadal matches.