Nick Kyrgios to embrace ‘villain role’ against Britain’s Paul Jubb, but slams ‘stupid’ Wimbledon doubles rule

Nick Kyrgios says he happy to “ride the waves emotionally” when he takes on Great Britain’s Paul Jubb in the opening round at Wimbledon, but he was not quite so happy with organisers’ decision to keep the men’s doubles best-of-five sets.
Many believe Kyrgios is a dark horse at The Championships this year after he impressed during his warm-up events, reaching the semi-finals at the Stuttgart Open and the Halle Open.
The Australian, though, will not only have to face local wild card Jubb in his first-round clash on Tuesday as he will also have the home crowd to deal with.
However, he is happy to be “wearing the black hat” once more.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 25, 2022
“I feel like I can put myself in his [Jubb’s] shoes very well,” Kyrgios said.
“I was once that kid that got a wild card at the Australian Open – it felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype.
“I’ve got to ride the waves emotionally out there because the crowd is obviously going to be behind the local.
“I’m used to wearing that kind of black hat, the villain-type role. I’m going to embrace it.”
Kyrgios won the Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis at the start of the year and the “Special Ks” – as they have been dubbed – will also team up at Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old, though, is unhappy with the fact that they have to play best-of-five sets in the men’s doubles.
“I am not really looking forward to playing best-of-five-set doubles – I think it is the stupidest thing ever,” he said.
“I don’t know why it is best of five sets. No-one wants to play best-of-five-set doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five-set doubles. So I am excited, but I am also dreading the fact that if it is one set all I am going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles.
“That’s why I haven’t played it before. It doesn’t make sense, because I have always gone pretty well here in singles so I am not on my off day playing potentially five sets of doubles.”
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Dan Evans’ Wimbledon preparation hurt by defeat to Gabriel Diallo at Surbiton Trophy
The British number one suffered a surprise loss.
-
Wimbledon
Jack Draper makes ‘difficult decision’ to miss Wimbledon due to shoulder injury
The 21-year-old was forced to serve underarm before retiring during his first-round match at the French Open.
-
French Open
Karolina Muchova ousts Aryna Sabalenka to reach French Open final: I don’t really know what happened
Into the final the Czech goes.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic: Carlos Alcaraz deserves his success, no doubt
The hotly-anticipated match will decide who reaches the Roland Garros final.
-
French Open
Miyu Kato hit back after ‘unjust’ disqualification to win mixed doubles title
Kato was defaulted in the third round of the women’s doubles after accidentally hitting a ball girl with a ball.
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz close to fulfilling childhood dream
Novak Djokovic stands between Carlos Alcaraz and a maiden Roland Garros final.
-
Tennis News
French Open men’s semi-finals: How they got here
Take a look at how the last four was set.
-
French Open
Holger Rune needs mayhem says pundit after tame French Open exit
Holger Rune went down in four sets but surrendered the first two tamely in a weak start.
-
French Open
Follow the 2023 French Open with T365’s scores and results centre…
Catch the action from Roland Garros…