Nick Kyrgios reflects: My agent had to come get me out of a pub

James Richardson
July 4, 2022

Nick Kyrgios says he has come a long way from his early appearances at Wimbledon.

Kyrgios has drawn critics for his approach to the game at the 2022 edition but the Aussie firebrand insists that he is at least taking the tournament seriously.

He conceded that before a meeting with Rafael Nadal he had to be dragged out of a pub.

Kyrgios credits members of his support team with keeping him on track.

“There was a time where I was forced out of a pub at 4am to play Nadal in the second round,” Kyrgios told a press conference.

“My agent had to come get me out of a pub at 4am before I played my match on Centre Court Wimbledon.

“I’ve come a long way, that’s for sure, but I think just daily habits and the people around me. I’ve got an incredible support crew. My physio is one of my best friends. My best friend is my agent. I’ve got the best girlfriend in the world. I’ve just got so many people around me, they just support me.

“I feel like I can reflect on all those dark times when I pushed them all away. Now to sit here in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, feeling good, feeling composed, feeling mature, having that around me, I’m extremely blessed. I feel like I’m just comfortable in my own skin.”

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Kyrgios believes that his Centre Court experience helped him battle past American Brandon Nakashima, who had down his compatriot Alex de Minaur in the Round of 16.

“My five-set record is pretty good, I’ve never lost a five-set match here. That was what I was thinking about: I’ve been here before, I’ve done it before.

“I was really excited to play [Alex] de Minaur, to be honest. He has been flying the Aussie flag for so long. I came on court when he was two sets up, so I was expecting to play him, but I’m not even thinking about that.

“I need a glass of wine for sure tonight! For sure!

“I stepped out here against one of the greatest of all time [Rafael Nadal in 2014] and beat him. These are all things I had in the back of my mind.

“Brandon hasn’t played on this court at all, so I think that is what got me over the line today.”

Nick Kyrgios