"I'm okay with not winning Grand Slams" - Kyrgios reveals he has been putting less pressure on himself
ATP
Touted as a future Grand Slam winner early in his career, Nick Kyrgios has fallen short of expectations but this hasn't stopped the Australian from enjoying his Wimbledon experience.
The 26-year old defeated Gianluca Mager 7-6(7) 6-4 6-4 in a spectacular display on Thursday, but was quick to point out that he won't be winning Grand Slams anytime soon.
“Not everyone can be a Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic," said Kyrgios. "They inspire millions of people. They're just gods. I see them as that.
“You have to have some people, I believe, that are relatable, that people can bring other fans to watch… I feel like I'm one of those people. Not everyone can be a Federer, a Djokovic or a Rafael Nadal.
"I'm Nick Kyrgios. I know who I am. I just don't put that much pressure on myself any more. I'm okay with that. I'm okay with not winning Grand Slams.”
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The Aussie revealed he has been putting less pressure on himself, which has led to him feeling more comfortable on the court.
“I don't put as much pressure on myself any more," admitted Kyrgios. "When I was younger, it was hard to deal with all the criticism that the media gave me, that everyone gave me. ‘He should be doing this’ and ‘He should be achieving this’ and ‘He's not doing this enough.’
“Now I just enjoy it when I'm out there. I breathe in the fresh air. I don't take anything for granted. I just feel like I'm comfortable… People love Wimbledon. I love Wimbledon. I love seeing the crowds.”
Kyrgios next faces Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, as the 16th seed overcame Mikael Ymer in their second round match.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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mandoist08-11-2026








