Nick Kyrgios said Wednesday the court summons in an assault case back home didn’t affect him going into the Wimbledon quarterfinals and that reaching the semifinals in a major for the first time felt even more special given the “mental state” he was in couple of years ago.
“Didn't really affect me at all, to be honest with you,” Kyrgios said after his 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Chile’s Cristian Garin on the Centre Court.
“Obviously, I read about it and obviously everyone else was asking questions. It was hard to focus on the mission at hand.
“It was quarterfinals of Wimbledon today. I know deep down that's what I was prepared for. It didn't really affect my preparation at all.
“I knew I stayed true to myself and give my best performance today.”
At the start of the 2022 season, Kyrgios had opened up on his mental health issues and revealed he had had “suicidal thoughts” in 2019.
The 27-year-old from Canberra sat in his chair after the match and let all the emotions wash over him.
“To be a semifinalist at Wimbledon, it's a special accomplishment for everyone, but I think especially for me,” said Kyrgios, who becomes the first Australian man to play in the last-four of a Grand Slam since Lleyton Hewitt at the US Open in 2005.
“If you asked anyone if I was able to do that the last couple years, I think everyone would have probably said, ‘No, he doesn't have the mental capacity, he doesn't have the fitness capacity, he doesn't have the discipline’, all that.
“I almost started doubting myself with all that traffic coming in and out of my mind. I just sat there today and soaked it all in. There's just so many people I want to thank. At the same time, I feel like I don't want to stop here either.
“I obviously had thoughts the last year, year and a half, whether I wanted to play anymore. Lost the love, lost the fire, lost the spark.
“Then some things just changed in my life. I don't know. I kind of just rediscovered that I've got a lot of people that want me to play, that I play for.
“I've got a lot left in the tank. I feel like I'm probably playing some of my best tennis, mentally feeling great.”
While he has given himself a chance to “raise the trophy” on Sunday, the man standing in front of Kyrgios next is Rafael Nadal, with whom he had had intense battles on the court.
It was Nadal whom he beat as a 19-year-old in 2014 in the fourth round in his Wimbledon debut to announce himself to the tennis world. And the great Spaniard avenged that loss in 2019 in a second round match.
“Yeah, it would be pretty special to play Rafa here. We've had some absolute battles on that Centre Court,” Kyrgios said.
“Obviously, two completely different personalities. We respect the hell out of each other, though.
“I feel like that would be a mouth-watering kind of encounter for everyone around the world. That would probably be the most-watched match of all time. I would argue that.”
On Wednesday, as in the fourth round against American Brandon Nakashimia, Kyrgios was in his best behaviour. What more, he even kept his trademark trick shots under the wraps.
“I definitely felt a bit more pressure today. Obviously, uncharted territory moving into the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time,” the World No. 40 said.
“But I don't think I've been the favourite in many matches at a Grand Slam at this stage. Every time I've made it to the quarterfinals, or fourth round, I've played Andy Murray in his prime, Raonic in his prime. I never felt like I was the one to come off that match court with a win.
“I think everyone, when I played Nakashima, wanted me to go on the court and just get it done in three or four sets. I found myself locked in a five-set battle.
“Today, my record on grass, Garin's probably least favourite surface. Everyone is like, Kyrgios is probably going to win that. The score does not reflect how tough that was today.
“Look, I'm always going to play a tweener here or there when I want, I guess. Today I just felt like I was on the back foot so much, I couldn't afford to play shots like that today, to be honest.”
Against Nadal, he can be sure the odds would be even.
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