Nick Kyrgios is back to mocking clay tennis and numerous ATP 250 clay events as the Australian was happy to hear Eugenie Bouchard and Andy Roddick say what he has been preaching for years.
During the grass season, one of the frequent topics is discussing about whether or not this past year of the year deserves to be longer than five weeks. And in Tennis Channel’s studio, 2014 Wimbledon finalist Bouchard and former three-time Wimbledon runner-up Roddick were asked to address the issue.
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The first to answer was former world No. 5 Bouchard, who said that tennis is a sport with a long tradition and that grass courts have always been a very special part of the game considering the reputation of Wimbledon. Then, the 30-year-old Canadian added it would be nice if the grass season was longer and there was a Masters grass tournament.
Roddick acknowledged that grass courts are not easy to manage but that tennis should have a longer grass season. The 2003 US Open champion then made an interesting point by explaining that not having many tournaments leading up to Wimbledon is not helping the preparation of grass specialists.
Kyrgios listened to the takes and wrote: “Nah watching 250’s on clay is where it’s at.”
Nick Kyrgios comment© Instagram
Kyrgios has a history of taking shots at ATP 250 clay tournaments
Kyrgios, 29, made it clear a long ago that he was not a big fan of clay tennis, especially not of ATP 250 tournaments on clay because he believes there are too many of them and it just gives the opportunity to “average” players to win titles and gain ranking points.
Nick Kyrgios © Getty Images Sport – Christian Kaspar-Bartke
Over the years, there were many times when the 2022 Wimbledon finalist took a shot at clay tennis. And in one of his tweets from 2021, the Australian tennis star harshly explained how he really feels about ATP 250 clay events. At the time, Kyrgios was specifically addressing two clay ATP 250 tournaments taking place right after Wimbledon.
“Bro, why is there still clay. Bringing in absolutely zero fans, zero crowds, zero hype. It’s detrimental to the sport. My god. Excluding Gasquet, because he’s playing for just points, this is just sad man. No wonder we are going backwards,” Kyrgios wrote in one of his tweets in 2021.
Bro why is there still clay 
bringing in absolutely ZERO FANS, ZERO CROWDS. ZERO HYPE. It’s detrimental to the sport. My god. Excluding Gasquet, cuz he playing for just points this is just sad man. No wonder we are going backwards 
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 24, 2021
In a follow-up tweet at the time, Kyrgios said he would rather turn off his TV than watch clay tennis: “Sheesh, we agree on something haha. But for real, I’m a tennis fan, and I’d rather turn the tv off.”
Sheesh, we agree on something haha. But for real, I’m a tennis fan, and I’d rather turn the tv off 
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 24, 2021
Kyrgios in one of his rants about clay tennis: I don’t know who these guys are
In 2018, Kyrgios ripped clay tennis as pretty much something that only helps “non-talented” players.
“Wimbledon is as big as it gets in tennis. If you win Wimbledon you have gone to the pinnacle of the sport. I see it as where tennis started,” Kyrgios said six years ago.
“People say tennis now doesn’t belong on the grass but that’s not true. It is pure tennis at its finest. You have to be talented to play on grass. If you have a good serve and a good return, you get rewarded. If you come forward you benefit but if you do that on any other surface, you get punished.
“Clay-court tennis for me is not tennis at all. There is no creativity. It’s all about fitness and lasting out there. There’s none of the skill that is needed for grass.”
Nick Kyrgios © Getty Images Sport – Handout
Then in 2022, Kyrgios said it was way easier for European players to do well since there were so many clay tournaments and even said he didn’t know who were some of the top-100 players. In that interview, the Australian tennis star also added he would “never leave Australia” if there were six grass tournaments taking place in his country.
“European players can play clay court all year around and finish like 70 in the world. And they don’t even have to leave. Where an Australian player has to travel six months a year and not see his family, not see his friends. I have played five events this year and I am like 50 in the world and I have to travel,” Kyrgios said two years ago.
“So if I have six grass courts in Australia, I would never leave the country. Like I would never leave the country. Why I would leave the country? I don’t even know some of the people in top 100 I am being serious. I don’t know them.”
Grass courts are Kyrgios’ favorite courts but he will not be taking part in any of the tournaments taking place during the grass swing because he is still recovering from his wrist surgery.
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Publish date : 2024-06-23 20:40:00
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Author : News-Sports
Publish date : 2024-06-24 00:40:00
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