Kyrgios rates win the best in his career
NICK KYRGIOS rated his first Grand Slam title as the highlight of his career after “rolling off the couch” to lift the Australian Open men’s doubles trophy.
Kyrgios received a wild card into the tournament with his childhood friend Thanasi Kokkinakis and the pair rode a wave of raucous support all the way to the end.
They capped a remarkable night for Australian tennis by following Ashleigh Barty’s singles triumph and defeating another all- Australian pair, Matt Ebden and Max Purcell, 7- 5, 6- 4.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, the first all- Australian pair to win the title since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde 25 years ago, celebrated with a chest bump and looked genuinely astonished by their achievement.
“I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches,” said Kyrgios. “This one ranks No.1 for me.
“When I say I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else, I mean it. It was just special. The whole week, winning each round, I didn’t take it for granted. I was soaking it in.
“The dedication I showed all week for my team, and I’m just super proud of myself. Doing it with Kokk is insane.
“This is a memory that we are never going to forget. We are going to grow old, and we’re always going to be like, ‘Remember that time we rolled off the couch and just won Oz Open’?”
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were roared on by a packed Rod Laver Arena having brought the t ype of crowds never before seen for doubles to Melbourne Park.
“I would say that we’ve created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen, to be brutally honest with you,” he said.
“People watch my matches, everywhere I play around the world, the stadiums are full for that reason.”