He’s known for his controversial antics on court and now Nick Kyrgios is raising eyebrows off court as well.
The 24-year-old ‘bad boy of tennis’ was spotted at the Dog & Fox Pub in Wimbledon last night until around 11pm just hours ahead of his second round grudge match with Rafael Nadal.
Kyrgios and the Spaniard have traded barbs over the years, with Nadal accusing the Australian of ‘lacking respect’ earlier this year after losing to him in a match in Acapulco.
Kyrgios was seen socialising with friends and chatting to girls at Wimbledon’s Dog & Fox pub on Wednesday evening, according to sports commentator Miguel Seabra on Twitter, on what appeared to be a casual night at the pub rather than an official event.
He wrote: ‘I just had a toast with Nick Kyrgios at the Dog & Fox. He is completely relaxed, laughing with friends, chatting with girls, drinking. Quite an unorthodox preparation for tomorrow’s blockbuster, uh? I like it.’
Fans had a mixed reaction over the pre-match pub session, with some calling Kyrgios a ‘legend’ and others branding him a ‘disgrace’.
Nick Kyrgios (right at Wimbledon) prepared for his match with Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon today with a night down the Dog & Fox pub nearby. He is pictured left kissing tennis journalist Lucia Hoffman on the cheek
Kyrgios was seen socialising with friends and chatting to girls at Wimbledon’s Dog & Fox pub on Wednesday evening, according to a tennis commentator on Twitter
Business journalist Darren Rovell said Kyrgios’s pre-match preparations gave him ‘legendary status’
Pictured: Rafael Nadal (right) holds the trophy after winning the men’s singles final match against Nick Kyrgios (left) at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 8, 2017
Kyrgios was seen at the Dog & Fox pub, pictured, until around 11pm last night, just hours before his match with Nadal
Some fans said the night at the pub was a good omen for Kyrgios.
One fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Well, Kyrgios did say he went out in Acapulco most nights, where he beat Nadal and won the title.
‘A few drinks in the Dog & Fox is not quite an Acapulco-style White Party, but maybe he’s trying to replicate those loose, care-free vibes.’
Another wrote: ‘Kyrgios down the pub the night before playing Nadal is the sort of news to make you back him.’
But others were less enthusiastic about his preparations.
One tennis fan said on Twitter: ‘Nick Kyrgios spotted in pub, late on night before Rafael Nadal Wimbledon : This man is an embarrassment to Australia and to all sports men, women and children!’
Another said: ‘Kyrgios getting p***ed in the Dog and Fox the night before facing Nadal on Centre Court, Jesus.’
Kyrgios wore black to an all-white party at the Mexican Open in Acapulco and admitted to staying out until 4am most nights but still managed to win the title at the beginning of March.
The tennis bad boy will take on the world number two for their second-round match on Thursday – and Kyrgios even hinted he would be at the pub when he said he
One fan said Kyrgios’s night at the pub was reminiscent of his pre-match preparations in Acapulco earlier this year where he beat Nadal
Another fan hit out at Kyrgios and said he was an ’embarrassment to Australia’
The revelation was met with mixed reviews by tennis fans, with some hoping it would be a ‘good omen’ for the Australian
Kyrgios will take on the world number two for their second-round match on Thursday. He is pictured partying in London during Wimbledon in 2017
Speaking after his first-round win on day two, Kyrgios admitted there was no love lost between the pair.
‘Not sure that me and Rafa could go down to the Dog & Fox and have a beer together,’ he said.
‘I don’t know him very well. We have a mutual respect, but that’s about it.
‘That’s just how it is. I get along with people, some people I don’t get along with.’
The fresh comments followed a rocky year for the pair.
It originated in Acapulco in February where Kyrgios beat Nadal on his way to the title, bringing out an underarm serve in the three-set win, which caused the Spaniard to accuse his opponent of lacking ‘respect for the public, the rival and towards himself’.
Kyrgios branded Nadal ‘super salty’ in an explosive podcast after the Spaniard took exception to being under-armed during a loss to the unpredictable Australian in Acapulco.
Kyrgios then dubbed Nadal’s uncle Toni ‘an idiot’ after being accused of being uneducated and lacking respect for his tour rivals.
‘I can’t wait. As soon as the draw came out, I was super happy that I saw him in my section,’ Kyrgios said after his round-one victory.
‘When you’re a kid, you want to play the best players in the world on, I think it’s the best court in the world.
Kyrgios admitted he was facing one of the greatest tennis players of all time and he can go into the match as an ‘unbelievable underdog’
‘This is something that I can’t take for granted. There’s no guarantee I’m going to be here again in this position. Could have an injury or something like that.
‘I’m going to grasp it with both hands, go out there, give it my best shot.’
Kyrgios admitted he was facing one of the greatest tennis players of all time and he can go into the match as an ‘unbelievable underdog’.
‘I go into that match as an unbelievable underdog. I know if I play the right type of tennis, I can have success against him.
‘I have to come with the right attitude, I have to be willing to fight. If not, it’s going to be butter for him.’
Having split all six meetings with Kyrgios, Nadal is suitably wary.
‘My thoughts are very clear: I play against a top talent player, a very dangerous player when he wants to play tennis,’ said Nadal.
‘Normally against the best players, he wants to play tennis. When that happens, he’s a very dangerous opponent.
‘Of course, like second round is a super tough one. I know that. I need to be at my 100 per cent. I’m going to fight for it.’
Having split all six meetings with Kyrgios, Nadal is suitably wary. ‘My thoughts are very clear: I play against a top talent player, a very dangerous player when he wants to play tennis,’ said Nadal
