“I couldn’t walk the next day” – Kyrgios on facing Nadal on clay during UTS ‘All on the Table’ dinner

The Australian sat down with Patrick Mouratoglou and Alexander Bublik as part of the ‘All on the Table’ series ahead of UTS New York, taking place next month

Kyrgios, Bublik, Mouratoglou, UTS, All on the Table 2024

Tennis Majors

July 19, 2024

Nick Kyrgios has opened up on what it is like to face Rafael Nadal on a clay court during the latest episode of the ‘All on the Table’ series, in the run-up to the much-anticipated UTS New York.

Speaking to Patrick Mouratoglou and Alexander Bublik in a restaurant in London, Kyrgios recalls facing Nadal at the Italian Open.

“I played him in Rome one year,” Kyrgios said.

“I lost, like, 6-3 in the third or something. I couldn’t walk the next day. Against Rafa, it was different. Like, I couldn’t walk.

“I was like, thank f*** I didn’t win, because I wouldn’t be able to play today. It was different, the physicality, crazy. He’s a beast.”

Kyrgios then went on to explain that he did not feel that way against the 22-time Grand Slam champion on hard courts, but that Nadal’s beloved clay courts were always the issue.

“His forehand cross-court is a lot different (on clay, compared to hard courts).

“On clay, you can’t find the backhand very well. In his prime, it was impossible to find the backhand.

“Off the first serve on the hard court, you can kind of return and get it to the backhand, but him (Nadal) on clay… like, every ball – every first or second ball – forehand, forehand, forehand.”

Both Kyrgios and Bublik will be taking part in the second leg of this year’s UTS tour when it rolls into town in New York next month, just one week before the US Open.

UTS New York takes place at the legendary Forest Hills Stadium, which was was the legendary former site of the US Open Tennis Championships for 60 years, from August 22nd to 23rd.

You can purchase tickets for the event here.