Nick Kyrgios praised Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard revealed he considers grass courts to suit him better than hard courts. The 22-time Grand Slam champion shared his thoughts in an interview with Andy Roddick, selecting grass as his second-best surface.
There’s no doubt Nadal’s best surface was clay — few would argue against his title as the ‘King of Clay,’ considering his historic record of 14 Roland Garros titles, more than any player in any major tournament in history.
Still, it’s hard to deny that Nadal has also enjoyed great success on both hard and grass courts, with multiple titles, including six hard-court majors (four US Opens and two Australian Opens) and two Wimbledon trophies.
Speaking on the ‘Served with Roddick’ podcast, Nadal admitted that he considers himself a better player on grass courts.
"Of course, my game adapts well naturally to clay, but I love playing on fast courts,” said Nadal. “It’s true that I finished my winning with a couple of US Open titles, but my second-best surface was grass. Honestly, I prefer to play against Novak [Djokovic] on grass than on hard courts.”
In addition to his two Wimbledon titles, he reached three other finals at SW19 and claimed titles at Queen’s Club Championships and the Stuttgart Open. Nadal’s comments sparked reactions in the tennis world, with none other than Nick Kyrgios voicing his agreement. The Aussie famously reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 and has beaten Nadal twice at the All England Club — first in the 2014 Round of 16, a victory that arguably put Kyrgios on the map when Nadal was World No. 1.
"Honestly, Rafa on grass was ridiculous — lefty serve, great hands — can confirm was a nightmare on hard as well 🤷🏽♂️," Kyrgios posted.
Honestly Rafa on grass was ridiculous - lefty serve, great hands - can confirm was a nightmare on hard as well 🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/qIgbHqPCpj
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 12, 2025
Tough relationship between Nadal and Kyrgios
Kyrgios and Nadal didn’t always share the best relationship throughout their careers, with each clash carrying extra tension. "I hated him. I couldn't bear it every time I saw him walking," Kyrgios admited on December 2024. "He was someone who always motivated me: when facing him, I would get up from bed thinking that I had to play my best tennis to beat him. I never felt that anger towards Federer or Novak when I played against them."
Nadal also had criticisms for the Australian, back in 2019, for his usual on-court polemics."I don't think he's a bad guy, not at all. I think he's a good guy, but what he lacks is a little respect for the public, for his rival, and also for himself. I think he should improve that. Today we have to say congratulations, he was good and he won.”
They faced each other nine times, with Nadal winning six of those encounters. There was even a chance for them to meet in the 2022 Wimbledon semi-finals, but Nadal had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury after a gruelling victory over Taylor Fritz, where he came back from two sets to one down.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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