Rafael Nadal Talks Nick Kyrgios Ahead of Wimbledon Clash

World no. 2, Rafael Nadal is all set to face Nick Kyrgios in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships 2019 on Thursday after a comfortable victory over Yuichi Sugita in the first round.

In a pre-match interview, Rafael Nadal talked about mutual respect between him and Nick Kyrgios. Earlier, the Australian talked about Nadal after his first-round win. He had said in a statement, “we have mutual respect.”

Rafael Nadal was also asked about his opinion that whether he goes along with Nick about ‘respecting’ each other. The Spaniard revealed that he doesn’t have any problems with anyone on the tour. He said, “I never had a problem with nobody on tour being.”

Rafael Nadal further added, “Honestly, I am a very relaxed guy and I hate to be in a bad mood with the colleagues of the tour nor I think it’s my opinion of what he’s (Nick Kyrgios) doing sometimes but that’s my personal opinion and that’s it.”

Earlier, Nick Kyrgios labeled Nadal as a “super salty” loser. However, the 18-time grand slam champion suggested that he will not play the words game with anyone.

He continued, “I am too old for all this that one guy says one thing, the other guy says another thing, no, I will not play that game.”

Rafael Nadal was defeated by the Australian in the round of 16 of the Mexican Open in Acapulco. The 33-year-old, however, was not impressed with Nick’s behavior on the court. He said in a post-match interview, “He (Nick) lacks respect for the public, the rival and towards himself.”

The Spaniard justified his statement ahead of their clash at SW19. “I just say what I say it in Acapulco because I feel it that way and that moment and that’s all,” said Nadal. “I cannot change that because that’s what I truly felt in that moment and that’s it.”

Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios will meet each other for the 7th time in their career with both of them winning 3 matches each. Five years ago, the 24-year-old had defeated Nadal in the round of 16 of the Wimbledon Championships.