Gift and a curse’: Nick Kyrgios opens up about beating Djokovic, Nadal and Federer

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios reveals the conflicting emotions associated with his victories over the ‘Big Three’ – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer – in an interview. Kyrgios, known for his fiery personality on the court, admits that it was both a ‘gift and a curse’ to defeat the tennis GOATs at his first attempt. Unlike most tennis players, Kyrgios managed to secure wins against all three legends early in his career.

The Australian player began his triumphant run by stunning Nadal in a four-set match at Wimbledon in 2014. The following year, Kyrgios beat Federer in their first meeting at the Madrid Masters on clay. He completed the set by defeating Djokovic in Acapulco in 2017. Despite their initial rocky relationship, Kyrgios and Djokovic have since reconciled and now maintain regular communication, even sharing memes.

Currently recovering from a wrist injury, Kyrgios is spending time in the Eurosport commentary box at the Australian Open. In an interview with Chris Bradnam, he reflects on the difficulty of beating the sport’s biggest names, stating that his early victories were both a source of joy and pressure. He acknowledges that the Grand Slam tournaments pose a different challenge altogether.

Kyrgios reveals, “I’ve rarely had success against either of those guys at a Slam. Only done it to Nadal and it’s just managing the ups and downs throughout that three, four, five-hour period.” He commends the ‘Big Three’ for their ability to weather the storm and stay consistent throughout matches. He cites Djokovic’s comebacks from being two sets down against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon 2022 and against Laslo Djere at the 2023 US Open as prime examples of their composure.

While Kyrgios has yet to secure a Grand Slam title, he came closest at Wimbledon 2022, reaching the final before eventually falling to Djokovic. Reflecting on the mental toughness required to succeed in top-level tennis, Kyrgios expresses admiration for the ‘Big Three’, particularly their ability to quickly recover from the physical and emotional toll of a major tournament. He notes that their hunger for improvement and their resilience are what sets them apart from other players in the sport.

A remarkable historical performance against the ‘Big Three’ was achieved by David Nalbandian at the 2007 Madrid Masters. Nalbandian defeated Nadal in the quarter-finals, Djokovic in the semi-finals, and Federer in the final to claim the tournament title.