{"id":11311,"date":"2024-12-16T03:25:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T03:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=11311"},"modified":"2024-12-16T03:25:04","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T03:25:04","slug":"nick-kyrgios-reveals-why-he-used-to-hate-and-despise-rafael-nadal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=11311","title":{"rendered":"Nick Kyrgios Reveals Why He ‘Used To Hate And Despise’ Rafael Nadal"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n

<\/main><\/p>\n

\n

Rafael Nadal\u00a0built a reputation as one of the most likable and classiest athletes ever, but\u00a0Nick Kyrgios\u00a0used to hate the Spaniard.<\/p>\n

Nadal’s legendary career\u00a0ended last month at the Davis Cup Finals after Team Spain was defeated by the Netherlands. The 14-time French Open champion also lost his final match against Botic van de Zandschulp.<\/p>\n

The frustration of not ending his career with a fifth Davis Cup title did not stop Nadal from speaking eloquently during the retirement ceremony held for him afterward in Malaga. It included him saying he\u00a0hoped to be remembered as a good person.<\/p>\n

Despite the emotions stirred by the retirement ceremony, many significant figures in Nadal’s life were disappointed with his farewell. For example,\u00a0Carlos Moya, Nadal’s primary coach since 2018, called it shabby.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/center><\/div>\n

Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer lamented Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, Nadal’s greatest rivals, not being present for his farewell and said\u00a0it watered down what should have felt like a momentous moment.<\/p>\n

The widespread love and admiration for Nadal explain why pressure existed to give the 22-time Grand Slam winner and former\u00a0ATP\u00a0world No. 1 a send-off that marked how significant he had been to tennis.<\/p>\n

However, Kyrgios did not always share that respect for Nadal. The Australian regularly and controversially criticized the tennis legend for various reasons, including calling him “salty” after losses.<\/p>\n

Those criticisms were several years ago. Kyrgios’ attention has now turned to Jannik Sinner, who he has lambasted many times since the Italian tested positive for the banned substance clostebol.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up\u00a0promised to show Sinner no respect if he played him at the 2025 Australian Open, where Kyrgios will make his first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 US Open.<\/p>\n

Kyrgios has changed his tune about Nadal in recent years and expressed sadness when the 38-year-old announced he would retire at the Davis Cup Finals. The pair had some great battles, including intense Wimbledon matches in 2014 and 2019.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

In an appearance on the Nothing Major Podcast, Kyrgios recounted how much he disliked Nadal. The Australian felt hatred for him in a way he never did towards Federer and Djokovic.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

“I couldn\u2019t stand him.\u00a0I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around. He was one guy who always motivated me. If I played him I would get up for it and try and get the best tennis I could possibly play. I didn\u2019t feel that anger towards Federer or Novak when I played them.”<\/p>\n