By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, October 24, 2024
Photo: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Facing up Nick Kyrgios in Madrid, Roger Federer famously observed “We need a clown for this circus”.
When it comes to clowns, Nick Kyrgios is in a class by itself, said two prominent Russians.
Asked their views on the Aussie’s explosive comeback, Elena Vesnina AND Nikolay Davydenko issued a scathing takedown of the team calling Kyrgios “an overrated clown” in an interview with BetBoomTennis.
The 29-year-old Kyrgios announced his intention to launch his return to an exo in December in preparation to play in the 2025 Australian Open.
Former world No. 3 Davydenko, who won 21 titles including an upset of Rafa Nadal in the 2008 Miami Open final, dismissed Kyrgios as an “overrated”, injury-prone player whose results failed to match its advertising.
“He’s generally overrated,” Davydenko told BetBoom Tennis. “When it was time to play, he was always hurt. In short, let’s forget about him.”
Vesnina, the 2017 Indian Wells champion and former Wimbledon semi-finalist, ripped Kyrgios as “a clown”. although she also praised him as an extremely talented player who often came up short at the Slams.
“Clown, I agree,” said Vesnina. “But he was extremely gifted and talented. He had a powerful serve and a great forehand. But when it came to winning a major title, it all went up in smoke.”
@corrads._ “We need a clown for this circus”🤡 || Roger Federer || #federer #federerthemaestro #tennistiktok #fypshi #viral #viral #please #rogertok ♬ original sound – corrado🥥
Perhaps the disrespect will add fuel to Kyrgios’ competitive fire.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist says he believes he can win a Grand Slam singles title and knows that holding a major is the only way to appease his critics.
In fact, Kyrgios announced two main missions ahead of his comeback: Win a Slam title and silence the skeptics.
“I’m coming back because something is keeping me around the game,” Kyrgios told Australia’s News Corp Code Sports. “I’ve beaten almost every person that’s come up against me, I’ve made a Grand Slam final, I’ve won a Grand Slam doubles title, I’ve won multiple titles and I’ve won money.
“But I think the only thing that is now in my target is a Grand Slam. I think that’s going to be the only thing that shuts people up at the end of the day.”
Will Kyrgios have the last laugh? Only time and his performance will tell.
