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Nick Kyrgios blasts Wimbledon organisers over 'stupid' tradition

Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios (pictured right) during an interview and (pictured left) Kyrgios celebrates with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios (pictured right) has ripped into the Wimbledon tradition of men playing five sets in doubles. (Getty Images)

Aussie World No.45 Nick Kyrgios has let rip and labelled Wimbledon's rules for men's doubles to play best-of-five sets as 'stupid'.

Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis announced they would take part in the men's doubles draw at Wimbledon following their Australian Open title.

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However, Kokkinakis admitted this grand slam would be different and the duo would take it on a match-by-match basis considering Kyrgios' quest for singles glory.

A semi-finalist in Stuttgart and Halle before withdrawing from his final lead-up event in Mallorca to rest a minor abdominal strain, Kyrgios's ominous grass-court form has captured the attention of bookmakers in the know.

However, Wimbledon is the only grand slam where doubles matches are played over five sets.

This has resulted in Kyrgios accepting he won't be able to make a push in both sides of the draw due to the demanding nature of the sport.

And Kyrgios let rip at the Wimbledon tradition a day out from the opening match.

"I am not really looking forward to playing best-of-five-set doubles - I think it is the stupidest thing ever," Kyrgios said at a Wimbledon press conference.

"I don't know why it is best of five sets. No-one wants to play best-of-five-set doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five-set doubles.

"I am excited, but I am also dreading the fact that if it is one set all I am going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles.

"That's why I haven't played it before. It doesn't make sense, because I have always gone pretty well here in singles so I am not on my off day playing potentially five sets of doubles."

Nick Kyrgios a serious threat at Wimbledon

Kyrgios has always played some of his best tennis on grass and he recent form had doubles partner Kokkinakis hyping him up.

"He's a legit contender," Kokkinakis said.

"He looks great. He looks like he's locked in."

"I had a look at his draw and I really like it for him.

"Obviously, slams are tough but with his game and how comfortable he is on grass and how many matches he's played, I think he can definitely make a big run here. I'm pretty confident in that."

And Kyrgios said he would have to embrace the villain role in his First Round match against local wild card Paul Jubb.

Nick Kyrgios (pictured) hits a forehand in practice ahead of the 2022 Wimbledon Championship.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured) practices ahead of the 2022 Wimbledon Championship. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

"I feel like I can put myself in his [Jubb's] shoes very well," Kyrgios added.

"I was once that kid that got a wild card at the Australian Open - it felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype.

"I've got to ride the waves emotionally out there because the crowd is obviously going to be behind the local.

"I'm used to wearing that kind of black hat, the villain-type role. I'm going to embrace it."

Kyrgios has won seven of his nine matches on grass court so far this season.

with AAP

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