Nick Kyrgios Gently Shuts Down Salty Zverev

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
Australia's Nick Kyrgios dismissed criticism from Alexander Zverev on Saturday after the German said he was a step behind some of his main rivals when it came to challenging for Grand Slams.

Zverev said some of the other young players were "just better" than Kyrgios, who provocatively dropped and did push-ups when the world number seven served double faults during Germany's clash with Australia at the ATP Cup.

"I'm not going to entertain that too much. With everything going on, that's the least of my worries," said Kyrgios, who has been at the forefront of fundraising efforts for Australia's bushfire crisis.

"He's a great player. I'm not quite sure where those comments come from. I'm sure he didn't mean them in a bad way. But if he did, then I'm sorry for whatever I've done to you."

Zverev told media in Melbourne that "there's a lot of young guys that are right now, no offence, just better than (Kyrgios).

"I think Stefanos (Tsitsipas) is better than him. Just simply because he is better over five sets and that's what you need as well."

However, Kyrgios said he was finding it hard to focus on his home Grand Slam after the emotions caused by the deadly bushfire disaster, which has torched swathes of countryside and thousands of homes.

"I guess my mind is still not completely on the tennis side of things," the 24-year-old said.

"It's tough. The fires, I mean, if you get down to it, people are losing their families, homes," he added.

"It's not easy to just completely switch your concentration on the Australian Open -- how is your forehand going today? - when you put it in perspective of what is actually going on."

The coachless Kyrgios, ranked 26th in the world, also said he had no plans to take up John McEnroe on his offer of acting as a mentor.

"I think me and Mack, we'll just stick to having some beers together. That's about it," he said.

(Published by TennisTemple.com Rédaction, Saturday 01/18/20 08:48)

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Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
are we seeing a new, level-headed Nick or is it a false dawn?


the historical evidence points to the latter, sadly
 

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Zverev has never won a B05 match against a top 10 player in his entire career. Nick has of course beaten Nadal at Wimbledon and also then top 10 Raonic.

Honestly, this is hilarious.

Also, Tsitsipas may have made a slam SF but he lost in the 1R of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Terrible comparison by Zverev.
 

beard

Legend
He definitely hired good shrink or good P. R. ... Anyway, its easy to be nice, isn't it Kyr?

By the way don't you have feeling that he have stolen some Novak's sentences. Read again his statement, sounds as answer Novak could give about Kyr attacking him, specially bolded :sneaky:

"He's a great player. I'm not quite sure where those comments come from. I'm sure he didn't mean them in a bad way. But if he did, then I'm sorry for whatever I've done to you."
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
Kyrgios seems to be setting up the fires as a rationalisation for an early exit. "I guess my mind is not completely on the tennis side of things.It's tough, the fires I mean.....people are losing their homes, families." Seems any distraction will do...

well

in moving from losing because "I hate tennis and would rather play basketball" to losing because "I'm too concerned about the wildfires," I think some of those old psychoanalysts might suggest he's starting to use slightly more mature defense mechanisms.

something something sublimation of personal inferiority complex
 

Tennease

Legend
Nick Kyrgios shuts down tennis commentator over tennis chat

Nick Kyrgios may have found his motivation to make a deep run in the Australian Open but it's nothing to do with finally proving himself as a genuine grand slam contender.

The longer Kyrgios plays in Melbourne, the more aces he will hit and, at $200 a pop, the more money he'll raise for bushfire relief.

Everything else is currently beside the point to the 24-year-old star, as he made abundantly clear when asked about "the bigger picture" of his career today by Kooyong Classic commentator Paul McNamee.

After taking a seat in the commentary booth following an impressive 6-4 6-2 win over former world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov, Kyrgios brushed aside McNamee's question with a hint of frustration in his reply.

"People are losing their homes, losing their lives," Kyrgios said.

"Animals are getting hurt, there's earthquakes going on in Puerto Rico at the moment that aren't getting much exposure at all.

"You know, there's things happening; you guys shouldn't really be asking how I'm hitting my forehand or how I'm shaping up for the Australian Open. There's things that are happening that are real things that need attention and need help, that's what I'm doing right now."

Indeed, Kyrgios was the driving force behind last night's Rally for Relief that raised a whopping $4.8 million for the bushfire appeal.

The bushfires, as well as the team focused ATP Cup, have given his summer meaning beyond the individual, and at times lonely, pursuit of winning titles.

Kyrgios has often spoken of his lack of motivation and enjoyment playing and preparing for tennis match after tennis match over the course of a long and arduous year.

His $200 donations for aces hit give him the added sense of responsibility for an important cause - a cause that has a unifying effect in a nation where he often polarises.

It's this, rather than any personal goal, that could potentially lift him to a career-best showing at the year's first major.

"It's just crazy that a kid from Canberra had the platform to put out one tweet and get that much traction and it just grew and within a couple of weeks it was amazing how many people worldwide were just willing to help," Kyrgios said.

"And I think that's what we've got to do, if we're able to help then that's what has to happen and we're all going to overcome it."

In his wins against Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kyrgios has kicked off 2020 with two high quality scalps, albeit that his straight sets romp over the Bulgarian was in a low key exhibition setting.

Just as promising was his ability to keep his focus in matches against lower calibre players in Cameron Norrie and Jan-Lennard Struff, accounting for both in straight sets.

Those kinds of matches have historically been a struggle for Kyrgios, with the showtime element of his personality preferring big opponents and big occasions.

Kyrgios will be seeded 23 at the Australian Open, allowing him to avoid a match up with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Daniil Medvedev for at least the first two rounds.

His first two matches will likely pit him in clashes with opponents of a similar standard to Norrie and Lennard-Struff, giving him a chance to get his teeth into the tournament before he has to face a top-20 opponent.

Kyrgios said he wouldn't be watching tonight when the tournament draw is finalised. No matter who he faces he'll do it on his terms.

"Regardless of who I play I'm just going to go out there and serve big and play big and whatever happens happens," Kyrgios said.

"I just want to have a positive outlook on it, whether I lose in the first round or make a bit of a run.

"Obviously I want to do well and I feel like I can obviously make some strides into the tournament but I've got a couple of days to just continue to bring a positive vibe around and that's what I'm going to do."

https://wwos.nine.com.au/tennis/nic...nterview/057a7625-9ad1-4cf5-adb7-e577f70c81e1
 

Fabresque

Legend
I’m not sure why Zverev cares so much. He’s a better player than Nick, for one, and two he should know that Nick is a player who likes to provoke others, it’s his way of getting in their head and gaining an advantage on the court.
 

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Zverev has never won a B05 match against a top 10 player in his entire career. Nick has of course beaten Nadal at Wimbledon and also then top 10 Raonic.

Honestly, this is hilarious.

Also, Tsitsipas may have made a slam SF but he lost in the 1R of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Terrible comparison by Zverev.
Hillarious how? Zverev has reached the top 5, while Kyrgios has never ever been top 10. Zverev has won 3 masters 1000 titles, Kyrios 0. Zverev has won the ATP finals, Kyrgios has never classified to it. Zverev is also the only player in tennis history to defeat Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in the ATP finals.

There can be no doubt that Zverev is a superior tennis player than Kyrgios.
 
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JoshuaPim

Semi-Pro
Kyrgios seems to be setting up the fires as a rationalisation for an early exit. "I guess my mind is not completely on the tennis side of things.It's tough, the fires I mean.....people are losing their homes, families." Seems any distraction will do...
yeah, as if the thug needs some genuine reason when he couldn't care less anyway. Stick him in a fireman's outfit and send him battling the flames, would pay good money to watch that.
 

beard

Legend
"You know, there's things happening; you guys shouldn't really be asking how I'm hitting my forehand or how I'm shaping up for the Australian Open. There's things that are happening that are real things that need attention and need help, that's what I'm doing right now."
I see Kyrgios became Novak's best friend, and them together travelling world and hugging trees :laughing:

If I am journalist I would ask him in future only questions about catastrophies that are happening around world in that moment, nothing about tennis...
 

vive le beau jeu !

Talk Tennis Guru
"You know, there's things happening; you guys shouldn't really be asking how I'm hitting my forehand or how I'm shaping up for the Australian Open. There's things that are happening that are real things that need attention and need help, that's what I'm doing right now."
I see Kyrgios became Novak's best friend, and them together travelling world and hugging trees :laughing:

If I am journalist I would ask him in future only questions about catastrophies that are happening around world in that moment, nothing about tennis...
like nothing bad was happening on earth before, when he spent his time complaining about cringeworthy djokovic on twitter... :p
(or maybe he considered that the crowd breastfeeding was the main threat for the planet before the fires ?) :unsure:

but well, i guess it's a good thing he uses his energy for a good cause......
(100% genuine or not, it obviously has a good impact)
... even if he uses this good cause to avoid 'questions about his forehand' ;)

PS: oh, and back on the original topic...
61CnionjffL._AC_SX679_.jpg
 
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HuusHould

Hall of Fame
Zverev is also the only player in tennis history to defeat Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in the ATP finals.

I didnt realise he beat all 3 of them, difficult to see Kyrgios doing that. Nalbandian is the only other player to do it at any tournament from what I can gather.
 
like nothing bad was happening on earth before, when he spent his time complaining about cringeworthy djokovic on twitter... :p
(or maybe he considered that the crowd breastfeeding was the main threat for the planet before the fires ?) :unsure:

but well, i guess it's a good thing he uses his energy for a good cause......
(100% genuine or not, it obviously has a good impact)
... even if he uses this good cause to avoid 'questions about his forehand' ;)

PS: oh, and back on the original topic...
61CnionjffL._AC_SX679_.jpg

What the ... ? Where did you .... ?

Oh, forgettit! Still hilarious

smiley_emoticons_santagrin.gif
 

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
Zverev has never won a B05 match against a top 10 player in his entire career. Nick has of course beaten Nadal at Wimbledon and also then top 10 Raonic.

Honestly, this is hilarious.

Also, Tsitsipas may have made a slam SF but he lost in the 1R of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Terrible comparison by Zverev.

I thought he said other young players. And I think he's right. That you don't agree doesn't make it any more or less "hilarious." It's just a difference of opinion.
 
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R

Robert Baratheon

Guest
well

in moving from losing because "I hate tennis and would rather play basketball" to losing because "I'm too concerned about the wildfires," I think some of those old psychoanalysts might suggest he's starting to use slightly more mature defense mechanisms.

something something sublimation of personal inferiority complex
Well to be fair the defence mechanisms might not actually be maturing. Is just a matter of opportunity no?
Atleast someone is making good use of dem fires.
I am fairly certain by RG he will be back to "my soul cries for basketball".
Sublimation is temporary or in other words a false dawn.
 
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Robert Baratheon

Guest
but well, i guess it's a good thing he uses his energy for a good cause......
(100% genuine or not, it obviously has a good impact)
... even if he uses this good cause to avoid 'questions about his forehand' ;)
Think that's a good way to look at it. His idea(apparently?) of donating money per ace did a ton of good and he has my respect for that. Now if in doing good he does a bit of personal "good" who cares.
 

kevaninho

Hall of Fame
Zverev has never won a B05 match against a top 10 player in his entire career. Nick has of course beaten Nadal at Wimbledon and also then top 10 Raonic.

Honestly, this is hilarious.

Also, Tsitsipas may have made a slam SF but he lost in the 1R of both Wimbledon and the US Open. Terrible comparison by Zverev.

Doesn't matter. What matters is titles, and Zverev has a few Masters titles to his name on different surfaces.

Has NK even contested any Masters finals?
 

Wilsonpro

Rookie
Arent these two best mates? Are they perhaps trying to create a rivalry to get media attention onto Next Gen like Tsitispasv Medvedev rivalry has.

Nowadays tennis seems a bit like a club atmosphere. Those old days of genuine dislike between players ended 20 years ago
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
Well to be fair the defence mechanisms might not actually be maturing. Is just a matter of opportunity no?
Atleast someone is making good use of dem fires.
I am fairly certain by RG he will be back to "my soul cries for basketball".
Sublimation is temporary or in other words a false dawn.
Don’t think Kyrgios has an impact w his words on anyone anymore. Can’t believe any player listen to him.
 
D

Deleted member 763691

Guest
It wouldn't matter whether Zverev liked Kyrgios or not, nobody in their right mind would consider Kyrgios a contender.
Kyrgios last made a slam QF in 2015 :)
Plus he's ranked 26th.
Even RBAgut isn't a contender.....and he's ranked 9th!
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios dismissed criticism from Alexander Zverev on Saturday after the German said he was a step behind some of his main rivals when it came to challenging for Grand Slams.

Zverev said some of the other young players were "just better" than Kyrgios, who provocatively dropped and did push-ups when the world number seven served double faults during Germany's clash with Australia at the ATP Cup.

"I'm not going to entertain that too much. With everything going on, that's the least of my worries," said Kyrgios, who has been at the forefront of fundraising efforts for Australia's bushfire crisis.

"He's a great player. I'm not quite sure where those comments come from. I'm sure he didn't mean them in a bad way. But if he did, then I'm sorry for whatever I've done to you."

Zverev told media in Melbourne that "there's a lot of young guys that are right now, no offence, just better than (Kyrgios).

"I think Stefanos (Tsitsipas) is better than him. Just simply because he is better over five sets and that's what you need as well."

However, Kyrgios said he was finding it hard to focus on his home Grand Slam after the emotions caused by the deadly bushfire disaster, which has torched swathes of countryside and thousands of homes.

"I guess my mind is still not completely on the tennis side of things," the 24-year-old said.

"It's tough. The fires, I mean, if you get down to it, people are losing their families, homes," he added.

"It's not easy to just completely switch your concentration on the Australian Open -- how is your forehand going today? - when you put it in perspective of what is actually going on."

The coachless Kyrgios, ranked 26th in the world, also said he had no plans to take up John McEnroe on his offer of acting as a mentor.

"I think me and Mack, we'll just stick to having some beers together. That's about it," he said.

(Published by TennisTemple.com Rédaction, Saturday 01/18/20 08:48)

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Good to see some honesty from Nick. I honestly can't quite fault either players. We all know how much Zverev works his ass off for the sport; of course he wouldn't think very highly of Nick's approach to tennis or unearned arrogance and media hype. But Kyrgios handled it very well, no classless insults like he used to do. And I got nothing but respect for his fundraising initiative. He cares about his country and his people, so he's doing whatever he can to help during this disaster.
 
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