Nick Kyrgios defended Aryna Sabalenka's choice to play towards him by noting that he is among the uncommon gamers who’ve crushed each Massive 4 member and acknowledging that the Belarusian performed solidly.
It’s not a secret that the top-ranked WTA participant was receiving criticism and scrutiny for weeks, with the harshest critics accusing her of placing girls's tennis prone to being broken.
When the second got here for the 2 to step on the courtroom in Dubai, Sabalenka twice recovered from a break down within the first set earlier than Kyrgios took it 6-3. Within the subsequent set, the four-time Grand Slam champion led 3-1 earlier than the 2022 Wimbledon finalist stormed again to finish a 6-3 6-3 win.
Though Sabalenka undoubtedly didn't embarrass herself by dropping with such a scoreline, she nonetheless obtained robust criticism. The vast majority of the critics claimed that by having her courtroom dimensions decreased by 9 % – and nonetheless dropping to Kyrgios – she didn't profit girls's tennis.
Kyrgios, who has had wins over Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, thinks Sabalenka put him as much as problem and that was all of the critics wanted to know.
Kyrgios: She proved that she may compete towards somebody who has crushed the GOATs
“Let me simply remind you that I’m considered one of 16 folks that have ever crushed the ‘Massive 4’ – Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafa Nadal have all misplaced to me. She simply proved she will be able to go on the market and compete towards somebody that’s crushed the best of all time. There’s nothing however optimistic that may be taken away from this," Kyrgios said.
“Everybody that was unfavourable watched. That’s the humorous factor about it as nicely, like this has been probably the most talked about occasion in all probability in sport within the final six months if we have a look at what number of interactions we had on social media, within the information. I’m certain the subsequent time we do it, if I’m part of it and if she’s part of it, it’ll be a cultural motion that can occur extra typically, and I believe it's a step in the precise course.”
Kyrgios additionally admitted that he was "nervous" and claimed that Sabalenka undoubtedly made it exhausting for him on the market.
