WATCH: “I’ll try to be more like Federer,” Nick Kyrgios recounts idolizing Andy Murray and Roger Federer in his youth as he sits in a candid conversation with Rainn Wilson

Nick Kyrgios said that while he wanted to become like Federer, he did not feel like himself enacting the Swiss maestro.

WATCH: “I’ll try to be more like Federer,” Nick Kyrgios recounts idolizing Andy Murray and Roger Federer in his youth as he sits in a candid conversation with Rainn Wilson

Roger Federer, Nick Kyrgios (Images via X)

Australian tennis ace Nick Kyrgios is a fun character not just off the tennis court but also on it. The 28-year-old is known for his on-court antics.

From emotional outbursts to out-of-the-box dress code, Kyrgios has done it all on the tennis court. But, interestingly, the Australian idolized gentlemen Roger Federer and Andy Murray in his initial days.

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As revealed by Kyrgios on the Good Trouble podcast while talking to renowned actor Rainn Wilson, the Australian wanted to be like Federer and Murray who were organized and “clean cut”. Kyrgios revealed that he carried two bags to the tennis court like Federer and wanted to be organized.

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When I first came to the tour, I was so out of pocket, like with the normal tennis players at that time was Andy Murray, [Roger] Federer, and these gentlemen that were so clean cut. I was like I'll try and be more like Federer. So, I tried to bring two bags to the court, really organized, tried to be really clean and proper.
Nick Kyrgios revealed.

However, he soon realized that this was not his authentic self. Kyrgios said that it felt strange to him and then he decided to do what felt original.

First couple of years, I didn't feel like myself. I was like, this sport is so foreign to me and then there was a point where I was like f**k it, I am just gonna be myself. I wore basketball jerseys on the court...and that's when I think I had my best success, when I just expressed myself.
The Australian ace explained.

Nick Kyrgios accepts not everyone can be like Roger Federer

This is not the first time there has been a parallel drawn between Nick Kyrgios and Roger Federer. A few months back, renowned journalist Piers Morgan had criticized Kyrgios saying he behaved completely opposite to what someone like Roger Federer would have.

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Nick Kyrgios with Roger Federer (Image via Eurosport)

As Morgan ridiculed Kyrgios for his behavior towards journalists at a press conference in 2022, the Australian gave a fierce response saying everyone cannot be Federer. Kyrgios had also termed the comparison “ridiculous”. 

But I'm not Roger Federer. You can't expect everyone to be Roger Federer, you can't do that, that's unfair. That's very unfair. That means 99 percent of the tennis tour are not up to Roger Federer's standards. That's sport, that's personality, do you know what I mean?
Nick Kyrgios said.

Notably, Federer was known for his calm and composed nature even in the toughest of situations. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was labeled a ‘true gentleman’. On the other hand, Kyrgios is fondly known as the ‘bad boy of tennis’.

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