Nick Kyrgios’ big win over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014 was a game-changer for him, and he doesn’t regret using an underarm serve during that match. After dealing with injuries, he’s planning to make a comeback at the 2025 Australian Open. It’s been over ten years since he shocked the tennis world by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
During that tournament, Kyrgios pulled off an amazing victory against Nadal in the fourth round. Although Nadal had faced some challenges at Wimbledon before, he played well against Kyrgios. But the young Australian was on fire and won with scores of 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 on Centre Court.
This amazing performance made people think Kyrgios would soon be one of the best in men’s tennis. Many believed his talent would lead him to win big titles regularly. Fans might wonder why his career hasn’t reached those heights yet.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|
Unexpected Career Path:
Despite high hopes, things didn’t go as expected for Kyrgios. His only Grand Slam final appearance ended in a four-set loss to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022. He also hasn’t won any Masters 1000 titles so far.
Kyrgios thinks it’s crazy to call him an underachiever because he’s faced many challenges off the court and believes helping young people is a sign of success too. Known for his unique style on court, like using the rare underarm serve, he’s often caught people’s attention.
Most fans first saw this serve during his match against Nadal in 2014, which stirred controversy as some thought it was unfair and unsportsmanlike towards Nadal. However, Kyrgios disagrees with these views.
On Louis Theroux’s Podcast :
“I did it (underarm serve for the first time) against Nadal,” said Kyrgios about facing a great returner like Nadal who stands far back from the baseline. “I needed to do something to get this guy out of this rhythm… I found a way.”
The debate over whether using an underarm serve is fair continues among tennis enthusiasts who feel players should adapt their tactics based on opponents’ positions behind baselines.
In another incident that drew criticism towards him was when he made remarks about Stan Wawrinka during their match at Canadian Open back in 2015; yet again dismissing any wrongdoing by labeling it as “good old-fashioned sledge.”
What do you think? Should players use whatever tactics they can?
