Roger Federer has many fans from different circles of life, all pointing out one unique aspect of the Swiss legend’s game: his grace and talent on the court. Over the years, spectators have witnessed points where other players would normally stretch their bodies to the limit of physical exhaustion and grunt out in pain while Federer seamlessly utilized his upper and lower bodies to produce a display of elegant mastery.
Nick Kyrgios, an outspoken and opinionated player, has admitted to being a big fan of the 20-time Grand Slam champion and has showered high praise on the 42-year-old’s talent and ability to outsmart and dominate opponents skillfully.
Nick Kyrgios pointed out Roger Federer’s uniqueness
After losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios was crestfallen and was asked by journalists if the Serb was the toughest opponent he had ever faced. Nick answered in the negative saying he had an opportunity to beat Novak. He then contrasted the Serb’s game with that of Roger Federer and hailed the Swiss’ ability to leave players stranded in humiliation.
“I wouldn’t say that. Like I said before, I had a chance to win the match. He doesn’t make you feel as bad as Federer does at times,” Nick Kyrgios said. “I think Federer, out of the other three guys, Federer can make you feel really bad like he makes you want to leave the court. He can make things seem quick and that the court’s really small.”
Nick pointed out the difference between Federer, Nadal and Djokovic by saying the Swiss was extremely offensive and dominated proceedings.
Kyrgios also had his say on the debatable GOAT of tennis topic by choosing a clear favourite among the Big 3.
“In my opinion, I believe Roger is the greatest of all time. With his skill set, the way he plays the game, I think it’s pure. I actually think talent-wise Nadal and Djokovic aren’t even close to Roger,” he said at the 2021 Australian Open.
Federer vs Kyrgios H2H record
Roger Federer and Nick Kyrgios have faced each other in 7 matches together with Federer leading the Aussie 6-1.
Nick’s sole victory came in their first meeting ever in 2015 at the Madrid Open when he defeated Federer in three sets. This was when Nick was a newbie in the tennis scene and was making his mark as a professional athlete.
Federer soon got a grasp of the Aussie’s game and has since won all their meetings. Nick has taken the fight to Federer such as when he took the third set to the tiebreaker in the Stuttgart Open in 2018. However, in most of the matches, Federer has been the dominant player and has often forced Nick into withdrawing either before or during the match.
“I like Nick. He shows he is passionate about the game and he is exceptional on the court,” Roger Federer said in 2019.
On certain occasions, both Nick and Roger play similar shots on the court such as a trademark offensive manoeuvre by both players when they approach the box and hammer the opponent’s serve away from his reach.
What are your opinions on Nick’s comments that Federer is the GOAT? Let us know in the comments section below who your GOATs are.
