2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios thinks he is finally getting the respect in Australia he should have received a long time ago. Kyrgios, 27, enjoyed the season of his life in 2022. At the start of the 2022 season, Kyrgios became a Grand Slam champion after he and Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men’s doubles title.
In the summer, Kyrgios made his first Grand Slam singles final before losing to Novak Djokovic. Against Djokovic, Kyrgios won the first set before the Serb stormed back to win the match in four sets. Even though Kyrgios lost the Wimbledon final, he was heavily praised for his Wimbledon run and the performance he delivered against Djokovic.
Kyrgios on finally receiving more respect and appreciation in Australia
“Yeah, I know, but I don’t forget the first seven years of my career. They can’t just pick and choose. Look, I’ve always been one of the best players in the world.
I’ve always held up my fair share of the bargain towards Australia. I feel like this is the first year I’ve earned respect when it should have been given when I first came on tour. I’ve represented them, put them on the map, and having produced one of the most successful male years in the last decade for Australia, and am only just getting embraced (now), I don’t think that’s my fault,” Kyrgios said.
Kyrgios had several deep runs during the 2022 season. Kyrgios’ lone title of the 2022 season came at an ATP 500 event in Washington, where he defeated Yoshihito Nishioka in the final. On three other occasions, Kyrgios was a semifinalist.
Also, Kyrgios made the US Open quarterfinal as well as the quarterfinals at the Masters events in Indian Wells and Montreal. Kyrgios, who at one point exited the top-100, is now the 22nd-ranked player in the world. It remains to be seen if Kyrgios can have another big season in 2023.
