‘I think it is the stupidest thing EVER!’: Nick Kyrgios hits out at men’s doubles matches being best-of-five-sets at Wimbledon… and insists he is happy to play the ‘villain-type role’ when he faces British wildcard Paul Jubb in the singles
- Men’s doubles matches at Wimbledon are best-of-five-sets contests
- Every other major tournament plays best-of-three-sets matches
- Nick Kyrgios does not agree with Wimbledon’s decision to play extra sets
- He has claimed he will enjoy being the villain when he faces a Brit in the singles
Nick Kyrgios has voiced his displeasure at the prospect of having to play five-set matches in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios won the event at the Australian Open alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier this year, and the pair are due to team up again at SW19.
When they won in Melbourne, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis only had to play best-of-three set matches throughout the tournament, but the same competition at Wimbledon is played across five sets, which Kyrgios is far from happy about.
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis won the men’s doubles at the Australian Open
They are teaming up at Wimbledon, but Kyrgios isn’t happy about potentially playing extra sets
‘I am not really looking forward to playing best-of-five-set doubles – I think it is the stupidest thing ever,’ he told reporters.
‘I don’t know why it is best of five sets. No-one wants to play best-of-five-set doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five-set doubles.
‘So I am excited, but I am also dreading the fact that if it is one set all I am going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles.
“That’s why I haven’t played it before. It doesn’t make sense, because I have always gone pretty well here in singles so I am not on my off day playing potentially five sets of doubles.’
Kyrgios has also entered the singles draw, and is set to take on British wildcard Paul Jubb in the first round on Tuesday.
Kyrgios will embrace being the villain in his first round singles match at Wimbledon
He is set to face British wildcard Paul Jubb in the opening round on Tuesday
The big-hitting Australian is aware that the majority of the support from the crowd will be for his opponent, but has insisted that he is happy to be unpopular on this occasion, and is looking forward to the challenge of trying to make it through to the last 64.
‘I feel like I can put myself in his shoes very well.
‘I was once that kid that got a wildcard at the Australian Open – it felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype.
‘I’ve got to ride the waves emotionally out there because the crowd is obviously going to be behind the local. I’m used to wearing that kind of black hat, the villain-type role. I’m going to embrace it,’ he said.
Kyrgios beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014, and feels he can go far again this time
The 27-year-old’s best run at Wimbledon came back in 2014 when he made the quarter-finals, famously beating Rafael Nadal in the fourth round that year.
He believes he is capable of going deep into the tournament again if he can find his best form.
‘I’ve played top-10 players in the world this year and made them look pretty ordinary.
‘I know where my game’s at. I know if I’m feeling confident, I’m playing well, I’m able to just light it up kind of whenever I want.
‘I know if I’m serving well and I’m playing well, I can beat anyone. I have pretty much beaten everyone in the draw before,’ he added.
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