Nick Kyrgios and John Isner reveal why Rafael Nadal was ‘horrible to practise with’
Former world No 8 John Isner has revealed why he found Rafael Nadal “horrible” to practise with as he shared a compelling anecdote about the legendary Spaniard.
Isner won 16 ATP singles titles during a professional career spanning from 2007 to 2023, with his biggest triumph coming at the 2018 Miami Open.
The huge-serving American amassed a 1-8 ATP head-to-head record against 22-time Grand Slam winner Nadal (0-8 excluding Laver Cup).
The pair’s penultimate encounter came in the quarter-finals of the 2017 China Open, with Nadal prevailing 6-4, 7-6(0).
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Isner divulged that he had accepted Nadal’s invitation to practise during the tournament in Beijing.
“Rafa did that to me in Beijing. If it all worked out, we would’ve played each other at the quarter-finals,” he explained.
“My coach said, ‘Rafa wants to practise with you so I set it up,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay…’ Horrible to practise with, he hits the ball so hard and he hits winners and it’s Rafa, so you don’t say anything, right? Let him go on.
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“‘Rafa asked me to practise? like, this is weird,’ and I saw the draw and was like, ‘Is that what he’s doing? Is he anticipating we’re going to play in the quarter-finals?’ And when I started thinking about it, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s exactly what he was doing.’ He wanted to see my game, my serve, how I’m hitting the ball on the practice court.
“That just talks about his greatness, I think. If I wasn’t on the same side of the draw of him, he wasn’t going to ask me to practise. But I hit with him in Beijing, and I played him in the quarter-finals four or five days later and he beat me.
“It was a horrible practice because he was hitting the ball so hard and just ripping every third ball for a winner. And I didn’t enjoy it and he saw my game, as well.”
In reply to a video of Isner sharing his story in Instagram, 2022 Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios agreed with the American’s assessment.
“Can confirm, crushed the ball in practice, horrendous,” the Australian wrote.
Nadal went on to win the 2017 China Open, crushing Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1 in the final.
The 38-year-old retired from tennis after a staggering 23-year career in November 2024.
