Kyrgios: I don’t think I’m a ‘bad boy’

Having led his team Singapore Slammers to victory over Philippine Mavericks here on Friday, the 20-year old insisted he was just a young guy who gets emotional on the court.

Published : Dec 11, 2015 21:03 IST , New Delhi

Nick Kyrgios said that he has moved on from the 'Wawrinka' incident.
Nick Kyrgios said that he has moved on from the 'Wawrinka' incident.
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Nick Kyrgios said that he has moved on from the 'Wawrinka' incident.

His on-court sledging against Stanislas Wawrinka may have earned him rebuttals across the sporting world but for Nick Kyrgios, the incident is neither big enough for him to dwell on it nor ugly enough to make him the new bad boy of world tennis.

Having led his team Singapore Slammers to victory over Philippine Mavericks here on Friday, the 20-year old insisted he was just a young guy who gets emotional on the court.

“To be honest, I don't think I am a bad boy. I just go out there and every time I think I am going to win the match and sometimes my emotions get the best of me. But off the court I am always very relaxing, trying to help out little kids and doing all this stuff, I don't know where this came from,” the Australian said.

‘Happy to support Wawrinka’

Following that incident, which led to a $10,000 fine from the ATP, it was obviously a field day on the social media when Wawrinka signed up for the same IPTL team this year with speculations on the relationship between the two. While Wawrinka is yet to play a set, Kyrgios insisted that the former would surely figure in the playing line-up soon and that he would be more than happy to assist him.

“Look, I think everyone's pretty excited and curious about how it's going to go. For me, whatever happened, it's done, it's been a long time since the incident happened. He's played some great tennis after that so I don't think it affected him too much. And he's an unbelievable player, he's won Grand Slams and he understands I am young.

“Playing on the same team, we will both be trying to win and if he plays the men's singles, which I am sure he will, I will be there to help him with the drinks or towel at the change of ends and do anything to help him win though we haven't had much interaction since he signed up,” Kyrgios said.

At the same time Kyrgios, one of the most exciting and colourful Australian talents in recent times, refused to admit there was anything he would change.

‘I am emotional, young, and still learning’

“I knew from the start of my career that I was the type of guy would have a lot of ups and downs, I am emotional, young and still learning. Having said that, I don't change anything, I am not the type of guy who regrets anything I have done. I don't care, it doesn't matter if you and me are playing chess or cards – I am going to win. (But yes) I have grown as a person and will get better, I learnt a lot,” he said.

Asked about whether he would like to return to India, Kyrgios was non-committal. “May be, I don't know. I do like the tuk tuks (autorickshaws) but they are very dangerous,” he joked.

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