Nick Kyrgios: I don’t have any bad blood with Bernard Tomic

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
January 8, 2019

Two of Australia’s most controversial tennis players are to face each other on Wednesday with Nick Kyrgios saying he is “looking forward” to catching up with Bernard Tomic.

The pair will play each other for the first time in the Kooyong Classic with the match used as preparation for next week’s Australian Open.

Both players have question marks over their attitudes as they have in the past admitted that they don’t love tennis, however they are eager to get back to their best.

Kyrgios was asked about the upcoming meeting with his compatriot after the Fast4 exhibition event and replied: “I’m looking forward to seeing him and catching up with him and playing against him.

“We’re fine. I don’t have any bad blood with him at all. It’s another chance to get some preparation before the Oz Open.

“Obviously I was pretty excited when I got drawn against him – we’re good mates so to get out there, I know what he’s going to bring, it’s going to be fun.

“It’s going to be laid back so, yeah, it’s perfect preparation for me.”

Tomic, though, did take a swipe at Kyrgios, who opened up about his mental health problems at the backend of the 2018 season.

“Am I doing that [getting proper match practice] against Nick, who only just serves? It’s tough to do,” he is quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Hopefully he takes it seriously.”

He added: “He’s needing it more than anything, because he’s struggling a little bit mentally right now.

“Maybe one year we’ll play seriously.”