- Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal match in 2014 at Wimbledon has a significant meaning
- He changed to a better player
- He stopped playing video games for six hours daily
Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal 2014 Wimbledon match has a significant meaning to the Aussie’s tennis career.
Kyrgios who is an analyst for Eurosport at the Australian Open 2024 opened up on the most defining moments of his tennis career.
It took a match with Nadal for him to have a complete mindset about the game and he is a different person 10 years later.
What Happened in Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal 2014 Wimbledon Game?
He defeated Nadal in the 2014 Wimbledon match and it struck him that he was a really good tennis player. Kyrgios couldn’t believe that at 19 years old, he beat Nadal who was then the world No. 2.
It was a big surprise that the Spaniard was knocked off the tournament in the fourth round. The Australian had received a main-draw wildcard and defeated Stephane Robert, No. 13 seed Richard Gasquet, and Jiri Vesely before facing off against Nadal in his maiden Wimbledon campaign.
Nick Kyrgios with Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 2014. Photo/ABC
Nadal lost sets to Mikhail Kukushkin, Lukas Rosol, and Martin Klizan on his rocky path to the fourth round. However, it was Kyrgios who cooked his goose in a tough and intensely contested Round of 16 match, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
In an interview with celebrity chef Gordan Ramsey for his new video podcast, “Good Trouble With Nick Kyrgios,” Kyrgios recounted the victory over Nadal.
He said this was the final missing piece of the puzzle that made him take tennis seriously and it is the reason he is in it 10 years later.
The 28-year-old recalled seeing the names of Andy Murray and Roger Federer on the list of athletes who had defeated Nadal. This gave him the motivation to alter his way of life and follow his dream of being a professional tennis player.
“I guess I had the lightbulb moment when I beat Nadal Center Court at Wimbledon. I was going to school. I mean I didn’t even know how good I was at that time. I was just playing because it was just like I was entering the tournament then it happened and then I saw this list of guys who had achieved what I had achieve,” he stated.
How Did Nick Kyrgios Change After Defeating Nadal?
Kyrgios stopped his bad habits including playing video games for six hours daily, and failing to eat. He started training and checked his diet more to become a tennis star.
“Maybe I got to get up off the video games for 6 hours a day, actually eat, actually train.”
Nick Kyrgios. Photo/The Independent
The former doubles winner at the Australian Open acknowledged that he lacked physical prowess at 19. However, his parents saw the potential in him and they encouraged him to keep getting better and it worked miracles.
“I was not athletically gifted, I was just this skinny 19-year-old from Canberra. Your chef at that time was pushing you because he saw, I guess, potential. You know that what just my parents and I’m just so glad in hindsight. If it was myself driven I don’t think I would have gotten the best out of myself,” Kyrgios recalled.
Did Nick Kyrgios Win at Wimbledon?
Despite defeating Nadal in 2024 at Wimbledon, he has not won any Grand Slam here. He came close to it in 2022 when he played against Novak Djokovic in the finals.
It was his first Grand Slam final and he was all hyped ready to win a major slam and play against the finest of tennis players.
He was lucky to make it to the finals which was necessitated by Nadal’s retirement at the semi-finals due to an abdominal injury.
With a strong start to the match, Kyrgios simmered hope among his fans but the Serbian proved to be too much of an opponent.
Djokovic carried the day with 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory.
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