Nick Kyrgios asserts he is better than Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in key area
Nick Kyrgios has made a bold declaration about his “tennis IQ” being higher than that of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
The former world No 13 questioned whether any player has reached a Wimbledon final without a coach as he did in 2022.
Kyrgios is the third player, after Dominik Hrbaty and Lleyton Hewitt, to win his first matches against each of the Big Three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
The Australian holds the following records against the Big Four: 2-1 vs. Djokovic, 3-6 vs. Nadal, 1-6 vs. Federer, 1-6 vs. Murray.
The 29-year-old’s run to the 2022 Wimbledon final, which ended with a four-set loss to Djokovic, is the standout result of his career to date. He has won seven ATP singles titles, with the biggest coming at ATP 500 level.
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Speaking on the Let’s Trot Show, Kyrgios was asked which player has the highest tennis IQ.
“I’ve played against Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray. I have a higher tennis IQ than them. This is a hard one because I haven’t had a coach for six years,” he said.
“I mean look, I don’t know if in the history of tennis anyone [else] has made the finals of Wimbledon without a coach. So, [for] IQ, I would probably take myself.”
Kyrgios, who has played just one match since October 2022 due to injury, is set to make his comeback at the Brisbane International ahead of the 2025 Australian Open.
“The [wrist] injury I had was brutal,” Kyrgios said at the South by Southwest conference in Sydney earlier this month.
“The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again. But I said whatever, just try and get me another two to three years of my career.
“It’s been a brutal last couple of years, but just being out there to play in front of a home crowd… I just want to be out there, lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country.
“Whether it is good or bad, it will certainly be a lot of fun, for sure. I am looking forward to it. My only motivation to come back and play is to try and win a Grand Slam, and I’ll give it one more shot.”
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