Nick Kyrgios who opted out of this year’s Australian Open has seamlessly transitioned into a commentary role. And as usual, he doesn’t seem to be out of controversial statements to make.
During Novak Djokovic’s third-round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Melbourne, Kyrgios happened to be commenting. Djokovic received a time violation before one of his serves in his 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 victory over the Argentine player, prompting reactions from both Kyrgios and Djokovic in the commentary box.
Kyrgios voiced his disagreement comfortably sitting in the commentary box with the time violation, describing it as unnecessary and absurd, and made a sarcastic comment about the umpire’s action disrupting the match’s flow.
It was after the match that the presenters on the in-house Eurosport show discussed Kyrgios relaxed demeanor in the commentary box.
“Is Nick looking a bit too comfortable in the commentary box”, a presenter asked
While acknowledging Kyrgios’s comfort in the role, they expressed a desire to see him back on the court, highlighting his contributions to the commentary role and his sense of belonging.
“We don’t want him to be here forever. We want to see him back on court, But, he’s doing a great job”, the presenter reasoned
“It means he feels like he is at home now, which I like to see”, another co-presenter
Kyrgios withdrew from the Australian Open due to a knee injury that required surgery. Meanwhile, Djokovic continued the quest for his 11th Australian Open title, advancing to the semifinal defeating Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals in four sets.
Nick Kyrgios justifies his on-court behavior as “a passion” for tennis
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has recently defended his on-court behavior, labeling it as “passion” for the game rather than anger towards others. Known for his outspoken nature and occasional outbursts on the court, he added the issue during a conversation with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on his new video podcast show “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios”.
Kyrgios explained that his on-court behavior stems from the desire to push himself to the limits and extract the best performance. He emphasized that his behavior is not directed at others but is a reflection of his frustration with his own performance.
“It’s just passion, like when I get angry on the court, I’m not doing it because I am mad at someone else. I’m just upset cause I know I can do better.”
“For me, I’m trying to get the best out of myself, but I never understand people that say that I was taking it too far. It’s like I’m just passionate about what I do- hours and hours on end, the years that I’ve put into this- and I’m not playing the way I want to be playing.”
-Nick Kyrgios in his podcast
