Nick Kyrgios' sad revelation after winning Australian Open title
Nick Kyrgios has revealed how people in his life have 'taken advantage' of him in the past after winning the Australian Open doubles title on Saturday night.
Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis ended an extraordinary two weeks at Melbourne Park by winning their maiden grand slam title as a doubles pairing.
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The 'Special Ks' defeated fellow Australians Matt Ebden and Max Purcell 7-5 6-4, becoming the first home pairing to win the Australian Open men's doubles title since Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge in 1997.
Speaking in their post-match press conference, Kyrgios paid tribute to his team for their support before making a sad revelation.
“I have won some big titles around the world, played some amazing matches. This one ranks No.1 for me,” he said.
“When I say I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else, I mean it. It was just special. The whole week, winning each round, I didn’t take it for granted. I was soaking it in.
“Not one time did it cross my mind that we were going to win the title. Maybe when we got to about the quarters.
“I just thank my team. In the past I haven’t had that many good people around me. Taken advantage of me.
“You know, I have had, I can’t complain, had an amazing two weeks, amazing experiences. I have just gone about it the right way."
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis defy the odds to win Aus Open
Saturday night's incredible triumph came nine years after Kyrgios and Kokkinakis claimed the junior Wimbledon doubles title together.
And it also came about in the face of some immense adversity for both players.
Kokkinakis won his maiden ATP singles title in Adelaide earlier this month, but was plagued for several years by serious injuries and illness.
"I can honestly say we did not expect to come close to this but with the help of you guys all week, who have been unbelievable, and the coverage and support we got, we couldn't ask for anything more," he told the crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
"It's been a rough couple of years for me personally but what a month we've had.
"Coming into Aussie Open I was already happy and this was a crazy cherry on top."
Kyrgios overcame a bout of Covid-19 a week before the tournament and managed to reach the second round in the singles, where he was knocked out Daniil Medvedev.
The pair also allegedly had the trainer of Croatian opponent Mate Pavic threaten to fight them in the players' gym after one doubles match, while Kyrgios was labelled a "knob" by Kiwi opponent Michael Venus.
But it appeared mostly water off a duck's back as Kyrgios continued his bid to change the face of tennis with his unique brand of showmanship.
"I haven't had the greatest Aussie summer, I got Covid, but I don't care about rankings or anything, at the end of the day this is a memory that I'm going to share with him (Kokkinakis) until I'm laying in the (ground)," Kyrgios said.
"I'm pretty pumped about it."
with AAP
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