Nick Kyrgios: 'That drunk woman didn't bother me ... I've been on nights out in my life'

Nick Kyrgios was a good boy. Ate the right things, didn’t drink, trained hard. But still he couldn’t “climb Mount Everest” and beat Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final of Wimbledon.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios pretends to use the runners-up trophy as a frisbee after losing to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final of the men's singles.Australia's Nick Kyrgios pretends to use the runners-up trophy as a frisbee after losing to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final of the men's singles.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios pretends to use the runners-up trophy as a frisbee after losing to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final of the men's singles.

“I feel like I've been committed these two weeks - but what more can I do?,” he said. “I've stayed in most of the time. I've tried to get good sleep, eat well, not even have a beer here or there. I've committed everything I can commit and I just came up short. I was taught that's all right. Even though it sucks - of course it sucks. Right now I'm replaying points back in my head from that match that I wish I could have back, but it is what it is.”

Kyrgios didn’t think Djokovic was out of this world but praised his coolness under pressure in 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 triumph. “He’s just really composed. It's weird, I felt like he didn't do anything amazing. He returned obviously the way he returns. But it just seemed like he was never rattled.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At a crucial moment the Australian was irritated by shouts from a well-refreshed female spectator. “I wouldn't say she cost me the game, he said, “but I'm playing the Wimbledon final against probably one of the best players of all time - I don't need someone absolutely smashed talking to me point in, point out.

“Listen, I'm all for having a great time. I've been on a couple nights out in my life, and I knew that she had too many. I told the umpire, asked what he was going to do. He didn't know she was drunk.”

After much under-achievement in his career, Kyrgios reflected on reaching his first Slam final with surprise but also pride. “I'm just not supposed to be here. Like, I'm a kid from Canberra. Literally a month ago I was in a facility playing basketball with some boys back home. I said to one of them: ‘You know, I think I'm going to like have some fun and maybe win Wimbledon. Here I am as a finalist without having hit more than an hour a day. I think: ‘How am I here? Just how am I here?’ You know, it's pretty cool.”

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.