Nasty Nick, the snarling bad boy out to get Andy
AS the foul-mouthed bad boy of tennis, known for taunting his opponents on court, he didn’t come to Wimbledon looking to take a back seat.
And as Nick Kyrgios takes on Andy Murray in a fourth round clash today he’ll be fighting to secure a victory against the world number two – saying he ‘definitely’ has what it takes to beat him.
The 21-year-old – who has already been fined twice for unsportsmanlike conduct and audible obscenity – said he was a more ‘aggressive’ player than Murray, 29, who is the favourite to win the tournament after champion Novak Djokovic’s shock exit.
Kyrgios has always been the main danger in Murray’s section.
The Australian is respected for his raw talent and the kind of power game that can blow opponents away. He also enjoys playing on the big courts and famously beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon two years ago.
Consistency has never been his strong point, but this season he has won a lot of matches and lifted his first ATP Tour trophy in Marseille.
His world ranking is up to 18 and he is the youngest player in the top 25. He has already beaten five top-ten players this year.
But he does not have a good record playing against Murray. Kyrgios has lost all four of their previous meetings, although he did win at the exhibition Hopman Cup in January. Kyrgios said yesterday: ‘Physically, I feel good. Mentally, I feel good. I’ve been to the fourth round at grand slams before. I know what to expect.’
He added: ‘I definitely feel like [Murray’s] beatable. He’s only human. This is probably my best surface, my best chance to beat him. I rarely walk into a tournament and don’t think I can win it.’ Kyrgios faces Murray after beating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the third round yesterday on People’s Sunday – the first for 12 years. It took place after rain during the week pushed back play.
However, he has admitted it will be a ‘tough’ match because he considers Murray to be a ‘good mate’.
The Wimbledon 15th seed said: ‘I think our relationship’s pretty good. We joke a lot. Obviously when he’s in the locker room, it’s just instant banter. We just have a lot of fun ... He’s a great guy.
‘I’m just looking forward to going out there. I’m obviously relaxed, I’m nervous as well. He’s a great athlete obviously. Moves extremely well. He knows the game so well.
‘There’s not many weaknesses there, obviously. The only person he really loses to is Novak.
‘The biggest difference is I play a little bit more aggressive to Andy.’
Kyrgios has twice fallen foul of the rules this tournament. He was handed a £1,880 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and another £3,000 for an audible obscenity. And he was involved in another controversial incident during a match on Saturday evening, when he was heard to use the word ‘retarded’ during a ill-tempered rant.
Last year Kyrgios found himself in hot water after taunting his Swiss opponent during a clash at the Montreal Masters. In a remark picked up by a courtside microphone midway through the second set, Kyrgios told Stan Wawrinka another player had slept with his girlfriend, adding: ‘Sorry to tell you that, mate.’