Nick Kyrgios acknowledged that Novak Djokovic is a really difficult opponent to play against but suggested that Roger Federer is the one he finds the toughest to face. In the WImbledon final, Kyrgios competed extremely well against Djokovic but in the end fell short in four sets as the Serb won 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (3).
It was the third meeting between the two and Djokovic’s first win over Kyrgios. Kyrgios has a positive head-to-head versus Djokovic but against Federer it’s a completely different story as the Swiss leads their head-to-head 6-1.
After the Wimbledon final, Kyrgios’ was asked if he thinks Djokovic is the toughest opponent he has faced. “I wouldn’t say that. Like I said before, I had a chance to win the match. He doesn’t make you feel as bad as Federer does at times,” Kyrgios said, per Sportskeeda.
“I think Federer, out of the other three guys, Federer can make you feel really bad, like he makes you want to leave the court. He can make things seem really quick and that the court’s really small.”
Kyrgios: Federer can really take it to you
“Nadal and Djokovic, they allow you to play a little bit from the back and if you’re not playing great, then you struggle,” Kyrgios said.
“But Federer can really take it to you and get you off the court real quick.” In 2017, Kyrgios beat Djokovic twice – Acapulco and Indian Wells. Kyrgios won the first set of his Wimbledon final versus Djokovic but the Serb stormed back to win in four sets.
“The best of five sets is much better. In the previous two meetings, it was the best of three sets,” Kyrgios noted. “Against players like Novak, Rafa or even Roger, you feel that if you win the first set, you still have to climb Mount Everest to be able to to win against them. The best of three sets is somewhat easier.”