"You have to be an unbelievable loser to play tennis" says Nick Kyrgios

Tuesday, 17 May 2022 at 03:00

Updated at Monday, 14 October 2024 at 13:40

byAlex Waite

Nick Kyrgios does not shy away from controversial opinions, and the outspoken Australian might cause friction again after he labeled tennis players as losers.

Kyrgios has had plenty of heated moments throughout his professional tennis career. One of the Australian's most recent outbursts came at the 2022 Miami Open, where he received a fine from the ATP for unsportsmanlike conduct and verbal abuse towards the umpire Carlos Bernardes.

This is just one of several instances where the 27-year-old has struggled to hold back his words and control his emotions. However, while Kyrgios has a 'bad boy' image in tennis, it is evident that he has a love of the game, which has led to six ATP career titles to date.

Like every other professional tennis player, Kyrgios is confronted with the demanding schedule and lifestyle of extensive travel and discipline. In a recent interview with TopCourt - a broadcaster that interviews top-level tennis players - the Australian explained that the professional schedule doesn't lend itself to much of a social life.

During the interview, Kyrgios made a humorous but unconventional observation about tennis players, hinting at how solitary life on and off the court isn't for everyone.

"You have to be an unbelievable loser to play tennis because only one person every week wins every match. Every week, you experience losses. You are on your own most of the time. You have to pack up your suitcase and travel to another place. You get another chance."

Throughout 2022, Kyrgios has struggled for consistent form, and the 27-year-old started his season at the Australian Open where he lost in the second round to Daniil Medvedev.

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The Australian responded with a quarter-final run at Indian Wells and a semi-final streak in Houston before getting injured and withdrawing from the 2022 Roland Garros.

Inconsistency has been part of Kyrgios' tennis career so far as the Australian has struggled to hold down a place inside the ATP's Top 50, even dropping out of the Top 100 at the start of this season. But, for Kyrgios, such swings and unpredictability are just part of the game.

"Errors are just part of the game. You never go out there and play a perfect match, so you can embrace when you are playing bad. An Olympic runner has a false start, and he's done. In tennis, you get many chances."

"The beauty of tennis is awesome. No matter how bad you're feeling, you can still chip away. You can build up that confidence. You can lose 49 % of points and still win the match."