Nick Kyrgios believes that he shares a lot of similarities with Naomi Osaka following the Japanese star’s constant efforts to bring mental health awareness

Nick Kyrgios believes that he shares a lot of similarities with Naomi Osaka following the Japanese star’s constant efforts to bring mental health awareness

Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios, the 27-year-old Australian tennis professional has cemented his position as one of the best tennis players in the world currently. He is enjoying the most successful season of his life as he won the Australian Open doubles title earlier this year, and managed to reach the finals of the 2022 Wimbledon, he then won the Citi Open and reached the quarter-finals of the US Open as well.

Kyrgios will now be competing at the Japan Open where he opened up about the similarities between him and Naomi Osaka. Kyrgios said, “Naomi, I love what she brings to the sport, I think she’s an amazing athlete. She can play some great tennis, but what she can do off the court is even more inspirational.”

“She has so many people looking up to her. She inspires millions of people and I think that’s something that I bring, as well.” Before the US Open this year, Kyrgios also opened up about how Osaka inspired him to talk about the mental health issues more often. He said, “That kind of opened my eyes saying, ‘Wow, there’s another tennis player as great as the champion she is, that was also going through that, made me feel more comfortable to open up about it.”

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Nick Kyrgios progresses to the second round of the Japan Open

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios

With the Rakuten Japan Open in full force, Nick Kyrgios played against Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-Hsin in the first round of the tournament. The Australian proved to be too much to handle for Chun-Hsin as Kyrgios emerged victorious from the tie after winning the game in straight sets by 6-3, 6-1.

After disappointment at the US Open, Kyrgios would be looking to make up for it by going all the way at this tournament. The Australian surely has what it takes to go all the way and win the title. He will be going up against Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in the second round of the tournament.

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Also Read: Nick Kyrgios looks for the dismissal of his assault charges on his ex-girlfriend on grounds of mental health