Nick Kyrgios lauds Roger Federer, says everyone should ‘Appreciate him now while he is here’

20-time grand slam champion Roger Federer is clearly the most popular player on tour even when he’s not playing. He has been the pioneer of men’s tennis over the last 2 decades but is currently out of action. He underwent two knee surgeries last year and returned to tour in march this year. But he never got going, his best result being a quarterfinal outing at Wimbledon.

After that, Federer decided to undergo another knee surgery in August and ever since that, he has been in recovery. He is expected to get back to full training in March. Amidst this, Australian showman Nick Kyrgios spoke about Federer in the latest episode of the No Boundaries podcast he co-hosts with Alex Babanine and James Frawley.

He said that we all must appreciate Federer while he’s around as his sole purpose of returning his to play for fans around the world. “Just appreciate it now while he is here,” Kyrgios said. “Roger Federer is on his back rehab and knee rehab right now to play only for half the fans in the world and himself.”

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He also lauded basketball legends LeBron James and Stephen Curry along with Djokovic and Federer. “People take all these athletes they’ve got now for granted. Like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. It is just human nature to take stuff for granted,” he said.

He also added that when these legends retire, everyone will remember them while ironically, they criticize them now. “When they retire, everyone says, ‘Oh, they were the best’. But whilst they are playing, it is always criticism,” he said.

Kyrgios to start the season in Melbourne

Kyrgios has accepted a wild card to the Melbourne Summer Set which starts from January 4. He hasn’t competed on tour since the Laver Cup and would want to start his season on a positive note. He will then travel to Sydney to play another ATP 250 event before the Australian Open.

As for Federer, he a few days back said that he will get back to training around March and most likely will be back on tour after the grass court swing as he doesn’t expect himself to recover in time for Wimbledon 2022.

Also read: “Easily the best facilities on tour”: Andy Murray yet again takes a jibe at Novak Djokovic