Nick Kyrgios Reacts to Rafael Nadal’s Grass Court Comments on Andy Roddick’s Podcast
Nick Kyrgios has weighed in on Rafael Nadal’s recent comments about his success on grass courts, following the Spaniard’s appearance on Andy Roddick’s podcast, Served.
After retiring from professional tennis last year, Nadal has begun his post-playing career, reflecting on his remarkable 23-year run on the ATP Tour. Meanwhile, Kyrgios, though still active, has struggled with persistent injuries—most recently retiring in tears from his Indian Wells first-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp.
What Did Nadal Say About His Grass Court Success?
Speaking on Roddick’s podcast, Nadal discussed how grass courts were actually his second-best surface, despite his reputation as the “King of Clay.”
“Of course, my game naturally adapts well to clay, but I love playing on fast courts. It’s true that I finished my career with a couple of US Open titles, but my second-best surface was grass. Honestly, I preferred playing against Novak [Djokovic] on grass rather than hard courts.”
Nadal won two Wimbledon titles (2008, 2010) and reached five finals at the grass-court major. His 2008 Wimbledon victory against Roger Federer is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in tennis history. Additionally, he claimed grass titles at Queen’s Club and Stuttgart.
Nick Kyrgios Agrees with Nadal’s Assessment
Nadal’s comments sparked plenty of discussion, and Kyrgios—who has faced Nadal on all surfaces—fully agreed with the Spaniard’s assessment.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kyrgios responded:
“Honestly, Rafa on grass was ridiculous – lefty serve, great hands – can confirm was a nightmare on hard as well.”
Kyrgios vs. Nadal Head-to-Head
Kyrgios and Nadal shared a fiery rivalry, which began when a 19-year-old Kyrgios stunned Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014. The Spaniard ultimately finished with a 6-3 advantage in their meetings, but Kyrgios managed to beat him three times on hard courts and once on grass.
| Surface | Kyrgios-Nadal H2H |
|---|---|
| Hard | 3-2 Nadal |
| Grass | 1-1 |
| Clay | 2-0 Nadal |
| Overall | 6-3 Nadal |
As Nadal enjoys retirement, Kyrgios continues to battle injuries, with his participation in the Miami Open still uncertain due to an ongoing wrist issue.
