Nick Kyrgios praised Emma Raducanu's 'radiant personality'
while discussing the pressures of being a tennis player in the age of social
media. The Australian mentioned a conversation he had with tennis legend John
McEnroe, who remarked that he ‘would probably be in jail’ if social media had
existed during his professional years.
The 29-year-old Australian shared his thoughts with BBC
presenter Clare Balding on Raducanu’s performance at Wimbledon. The Brit
surprised many by reaching the fourth round, which included her second career
win over a top-10 player, Maria Sakkari, before being eliminated by surprise
qualifier Lulu Sun.
Balancing fame in the social media age
Kyrgios is at the All England Club, this time in a new role
as a television pundit, partnering with McEnroe to commentate on some of the
main matches each day. He has also been giving interviews and chatting with
players from his new commentator position.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up discussed the influence of
social media on players and the pressure it creates for athletes like himself
and Raducanu. He recalled a conversation with McEnroe to illustrate the point:
"I mean I had this conversation with John
McEnroe," Kyrgios told BBC presenter Clare Balding. "I said: 'Johnny
Mac, how would you have gone in this day and age with social media always
following you off the court?' And he said he’d probably be in jail. So that
kind of explains what we deal with and we have to be ambassadors and good role
models. It’s taken me a long time to understand that," Kyrgios added.
Emma Raducanu at 2024 Wimbledon.
"We didn’t really sign up for it but there are a lot of
people around the world looking up to myself and Emma Raducanu. She's always on
court smiling and she does have that radiant personality,” the former world No.
13 said. "I think winning a Grand Slam so early on in her career has just
accelerated everything else so I think she’ll be fine moving forward,"
Kyrgios added on Raducanu.
"It can be [draining]. I know when I go out on court
it’s not always about my tennis, people just want to remember something and go
home with something that’s insanely rare to see, whether it’s good or bad. And
I think that’s pretty cool in a way but she’s obviously found that balance a
little bit quicker than I have."
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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