Kyrgios kudos for Ash
‘I always knew she was going to be a champion at some stage’
NICK Kyrgios predicts Ashleigh Barty will “pile up” several majors, claiming the French Open champion was always destined for grand slam glory.
Declaring Barty “the most talented tennis player I have seen in a long time”, Kyrgios also insists his inflammatory views of Novak Djokovic will never change. Kyrgios said Barty was “probably one of the favourites for Wimbledon” after fulfilling untapped potential at Roland Garros.
“I played juniors with her. I grew up with her,” Kyrgios said. “Literally we were travelling to Thailand, through Asia and playing juniors.
“She was raking up titles in juniors. I always knew that she was going to be a champion at some stage, just how bad she wanted it.
“Obviously she took that break to get her mind right and step back from the sport, and then she came back and was so dominant.
“I actually think she’s probably one of the favourites for Wimbledon, for sure.
“I think Australia has been waiting for that next player to win a grand slam and I think she was our best chance. She’s amazing. I mean, she’s gonna pile them [titles] up.”
Ruling out a Wimbledon doubles partnership with Andy Murray, Kyrgios said he is unconcerned about crossing swords with Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco.
Kyrgios smeared the trio in Rome, lashing Djokovic as “cringeworthy”, Nadal “salty” and Verdasco as egotistical.
At Queen’s Club to chase a Wimbledon seeding with a strong Fever-Tree Championships showing, Kyrgios refuses to budge on his views ahead of possible grasscourt clashes over the next month in London with the trio.
Taunting Djokovic with a reminder the Serb is yet to beat him in two attempts, Kyrgios said: “I think if I play Novak he’d just be determined to get one win against me, and I have played Rafa a bunch of times.
“We have beaten each other, as well.
“I think they are motivated to beat me in general.
“I don’t think before those comments they were, like, ‘Oh, I don’t really care.’ They wanted to beat me regardless.
“But, like, my opinions won’t change. I like when we go out there and we battle.”