Why ‘angry and frustrated’ Aussie tennis great GAVE UP on Nick Kyrgios in his prime: ‘I just had to let it all go’
Aussie tennis great Pat Rafter has revealed why he washed his hands with Nick Kyrgios when the polarising star was in his prime.
Speaking on the Shaped by Trent Cotchin podcast, Rafter felt Kyrgios had the all-round game to win ’10 Grand Slams.’
At his peak, Kyrgios was ranked 13 in the world – and holds the distinction of beating Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer the first time he played against the ‘big three.’
‘When you see a talent like Nick come along, as an Australian public you get really disappointed because he hasn’t reached his potential,’ Rafter told AFL legend Cotchin.
‘The guy was – because he’s never coming back to what he was – so talented and so good it scared me.
‘If he had the attitude of (fellow Aussie) Dane Sweeny, if you had that combination, you go ‘Oh my god, this guy is winning 10 Grand Slams’.
Aussie tennis great Pat Rafter has revealed why he washed his hands with Nick Kyrgios when the polarising star was in his prime
Speaking on the Shaped by Trent Cotchin podcast, Rafter felt Kyrgios had the game to win ’10 Grand Slams’
‘I’m telling you right now, that’s how good he was.
‘It’s just disappointment. I think his way of letting his frustrations show was just through his attitude and not trying because he was scared.’
Rafter’s scathing assessment of Kyrgios continued, with the two-time US Open winner acknowledging he personally was ‘frustrated and angry’ that the on-court entertainer wasn’t prepared to find ways to improve.
‘It’s a shame. He’s such a different personality. I was one of those guys who wanted to change him,’ he added.
‘(In the end) I just had to let it all go.’
It comes after Kyrgios was filmed outside a Melbourne nightclub this week at 7am, arguing with security staff.
The Wimbledon finalist appeared to try to re-enter the bar, and at one stage bizarrely stepped down on one knee in front of the entrance.
Kyrgios was also spotted out with his new love interest, marketing manager Alexia Alessi, in Melbourne’s CBD, before the Australian Open began.
Kyrgios (right) was recently urged to leave a Melbourne nightclub at 7am by an acquaintance
Footage also surfaced of Kyrgios partying hard at another Melbourne club, Bar Bambi, on January 26 – hours before he lost his mixed doubles match with Leylah Fernandez
He was seen wrapping his arm around Alessi following his split from influencer Costeen Hatzi last year.
The Canberra-raised star has endured a tough few years on the ATP circuit due to a spate of injuries.
The Aussie, who turned down a wildcard entry to the Australian Open men’s singles event this year, enjoyed a standout season in 2022.
He shocked many fans by reaching the final at Wimbledon, but came up short against Djokovic.
Kyrgios was in the headlines after beating women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in their Battle of the Sexes exhibition match last December – and at 30, he remains a drawcard, but his best days on court are over.
