Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has ripped into a few of the sport’s best-known veterans in a bombshell look with YouTuber Logan Paul.
Kyrgios took a jab at legends Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi, saying there was “no means” they might survive right this moment’s sport, in a chat with Paul on his Impulsive podcast.
Kyrgios’ chat was filmed in Sydney on February 13, whereas Paul was in Australia to advertise his Prime vitality drink – attracting thousands of fans eager to get a glimpse of the influencer.
The dialogue, launched on Wednesday, arose as Kyrgios and Paul debated who is perhaps the best basketball participant of all time. Because the dialog shifted to tennis, Paul requested Kyrgios who he thought of the tennis GOAT – the Biggest of All Time.
“[Roger] Federer and [NBA legend Michael] Jordan are very comparable,” Kyrgios, a famous basketball fan, mentioned.
“However I feel Novak [Djokovic] statistically is healthier.”
The Impulsive hosts then prodded Kyrgios for his ideas on Sampras, McEnroe and Agassi. The 27-year-old Canberra star is but to win a grand slam singles title, whereas Sampras received 14, McEnroe seven and Agassi eight.
However Kyrgios shot down the suggestion that the trio would nonetheless rank amongst right this moment’s prime gamers.
“No means,” he mentioned with a shake of his head.
“As a result of I feel Jordan might play on this period, whereas these guys would get completely snipped on this period.”
However Kyrgios, who labored with McEnroe when the pair represented Workforce World on the Laver Cup, mentioned his views have been nothing private. McEnroe was a “good man”, he mentioned – “however loopy although”.
Conspiracy theories
Kyrgios did not maintain again within the wide-ranging interview, discussing every part from his on-court habits to conspiracy theories.
He even expressed doubts in regards to the legitimacy of Egypt’s pyramids.
“I do not assume the pyramids are synthetic. They don’t seem to be synthetic, I do not assume so,” he mentioned.
His ideas have been met with enthusiasm by Paul and his co-hosts.
“[There’s] no means,” Paul agreed. “How do they line up in excellent symmetry throughout the Earth?”
Certainly one of Paul’s co-hosts then recommended the moon landings have been faked – one other remark that drew help from Kyrgios.
“America weren’t apparently even near having something efficiently going up there, proper?” Kyrgios mentioned.
Ingesting ‘5, six occasions per week’
The tennis star additionally opened up about darkish occasions in his profession, detailing his struggles with psychological well being and alcohol abuse.
“About 4 years in the past I used to be ingesting 5, six occasions per week and nonetheless competing on the highest degree, which was actually unhealthy,” he mentioned.
“I’d simply be like, I’ve acquired to play Nadal in a few hours, or Tsitsipas or these prime guys. It is simply not sustainable.”
He mentioned that, whereas he nonetheless loved an informal drink, he was “beneath extra management”, partly because of his girlfriend of 14 months, Costeen Hatzi.
“I felt like I used to be prepared to maneuver into the following part of my life. Like, I am turning 28,” he mentioned.
Kyrgios additionally credited Ms Hatzi with serving to him to play what he considers the most effective tennis of his profession.
“I really feel like she gave me confidence… Simply being current at occasions and saying, you recognize, ‘You have acquired the expertise right here.’ You possibly can truly go this far,” he mentioned.
The podcast interview was recorded simply over per week after Kyrgios had an assault charge dismissed by a magistrate after he pleaded responsible to shoving his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari, in 2021.
No coach, no worries
Kyrgios, who’s in rehab following current surgical procedure that dominated him out of the Australian Open, has a considerably unorthodox method to his coaching.
He has no coach, and mentioned that – despite the fact that one would possibly assist him play even higher – he wished to do issues his personal means.
“I have never had a coach for, like, 5 or 6 years,” he mentioned.
“I nonetheless really feel like I might take it to that subsequent degree of professionalism.
“However I can not stay like that… I simply wish to put [a coach] by that. Some days I simply do not feel like enjoying.”
Whereas Kyrgios hopes a grand slam title is on the horizon, he admitted successful one would possibly carry on one other bombshell choice.
He revealed that if he had received his 2022 Wimbledon last towards Novak Djokovic, he would have stepped away from tennis – at the very least for a number of seasons.
“That was actually my probability,” he mentioned. “Truthfully if I received, I feel I’d retire – at the very least for a 12 months or two.”
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