"It'd be a lot cooler" - Nick Kyrgios would like to have John Cain Arena at Australian Open renamed 'Kyrgios Court'

Known for being outspoken and sometimes controversial, tennis star Nick Kyrgios raised some eyebrows after suggesting he would like to have a court at his home Grand Slam renamed in his honor.

The former World No.13 has been out of action for close to 18 months, but will be making his return to professional tennis next year. Kyrgios intends to compete at the 2025 Australian Open, where he won his maiden Grand Slam trophy in the men's doubles event, teaming with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2022.

As Kyrgios prepares for his return, the Canberra native made an appearance on the AO Show podcast. The former Wimbledon runner-up stated he would like to have the famous John Cain Arena renamed after him, adding he has played some of his best tennis at that location. I

"really want to put a petition in, when I'm done, to call it the Kyrgios Court, instead of John Cain Arena," said Kyrgios. “I genuinely think if we called it the Kyrgios Court it'd be a lot cooler, and we'd create a bit more buzz. 'Oh you played on the Kyrgios Court?' Because then it's known for being a bit of a chaotic, zoo-like atmosphere, I think, and then people will think about some of the best times I had on it.
"And just how chaotic the crowd was going. Sometimes I was like, 'This place is ridiculously loud.' I don't know what it is about that court, but hopefully I'll be able to play on it again this year.”

Kyrgios defeated Karen Khachanov in an epic five-set encounter at the arena in 2020 as the match was decided by a tiebreak. The Aussie star has played at the John Cain Arena 15 times throughout his career and has tasted success on the court on 12 occasions. His last win on the court came when he defeated British star Liam Broady in straight sets in a first round encounter in 2022.