Nick Kyrgios did not hesitate to name the player he thinks is the most annoying on the ATP Tour.
The Australian has been part of men’s tennis for over a decade and has competed against some of the greatest players of all time.
During that time Nick Kyrgios has been very outspoken against either other players or topics within the sport, and has developed a reputation of being somewhat controversial.
Now ahead of his return to tennis, the 29-year-old did not hold back when explaining which player most got under his skin.
Who does Nick Kyrgios find most annoying on the ATP Tour?
Kyrgios has found ways to rile up some of his colleagues over the years with some of his controversial remarks and actions on court.
For example, in 2015 he made some lewd remarks about Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic, who was the girlfriend of Stan Wawrinka at the time, when Kyrgios faced the Swiss player at the Canadian Open.
Players have complained about Kyrgios’ actions in the past, but now the former World number 13 had his chance to name the player he found most annoying.
“In general I could not stand Fernando Verdasco. I could not stand the guy,” Kyrgios told the Nothing Major podcast. “I don’t know why. It was raining somewhere and he had his shirt off practicing!
“I was like ‘dude, it’s not even sunny put your shirt back on’. I don’t think I have ever met someone more arrogant through the hallways, ever in my life. I just couldn’t stand the guy.”
Nick Kyrgios had some words for another Spaniard he found annoying
Not only did Kyrgios find Verdasco annoying, he also mentioned Rafael Nadal as the person he found most annoying to play against.
He won three of his nine matches against the 22-time Grand Slam champion, and he struggled with some of the time Nadal took between points.
Kyrgios also explained he was always motivated to play his best against Nadal because he simply did not like him. “Then Rafa to play was brutal. When he missed a first serve and did his routine, that would throw me off big time,” Kyrgios added.
“To get into the rhythm of his second serve. I hated it. And he would abuse the shot clock all the time. I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around. He was one guy who always motivated me.
“If I played him I would get up for it and try and get the best tennis I could possibly play. I didn’t feel that anger towards Roger or Novak when I played them.
“If I played Rafa, because everyone in our academies back home idolised him, they were like he is such a hard worker, he’s this and that. I was like I can’t stand this guy. I wanted to show people you could just have fun and be chilled and beat people like that.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
