The Australian made it clear that he would still prefer to stay at home, saying he was going to Paris primarily to see his girlfriend, Costeen Hatzi.
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For the first time since 2017, Nick Kyrgios has announced that he will play in the French Open again. He has also expressed his opinions regarding clay-court competitions once more. Despite previously calling the French Open the “worst Grand Slam,” Kyrgios revealed to reporters at the Diriyah Tennis Cup that he would finally be returning to Rolland-Garros. The Australian made it clear that he would still prefer to stay at home, saying he was going to Paris primarily to see his girlfriend, Costeen Hatzi.
“Yes, I’m playing the French Open, my girlfriend wants to see Paris, so why not?” Kyrgios said, per The Telegraph UK. “Pick up some more money [in Paris].”
Although he ended a 1055-day losing streak against Mackenzie McDonald at the ATP Houston earlier this year, Kyrgios does not prefer playing on clay. Given his comments this week, Kyrgios appears to be sticking by what he said when asked why he would be attending the French Open: his girlfriend simply wants to see Paris. Although clay is not his preferred surface, the 27-year-old is confident that he can still play well on it, despite the fact that there are too many clay-court tournaments on the ATP schedule.
“There are too many clay-court tournaments on the calendar,” Kyrgios said this week. “I see guys in the top 100 that I don’t even know, I wouldn’t recognise them if I crossed them on the street, and they’re there only because of the clay tournaments. I think it’s crazy.”
A sincere Kyrgios spoke candidly to AAP earlier this month about his choice to compete at the Diriyah Tennis Cup exhibition tournament rather than choose to represent Australia at the Davis Cup. Given everything “negative” that had been said about him and his family in the past, Kyrgios explained that it had been difficult for him to commit to playing in the Davis Cup in the future. The Diriyah Tennis Cup first round saw Kyrgios eliminated after losing to Cameron Norrie 10-6, 10-6 in two super tiebreaks.
“At this point of my career, I’ll always do what’s best for me,” Kyrgios added. “I can travel around the world playing exhibitions around this time of year for six figures – you know I feel I put myself in that position – so it’s an easy one for me.”
“I’ll easily take time with my family and my girlfriend and enjoy experiences around the world and earn that type of money rather than play a week away in something where I wouldn’t be able to be with my girlfriend and I’m not getting paid that well. (That) doesn’t really make sense to me and my progression as an athlete.”
