Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 07:16 AM IST

  Nick Kyrgios takes on Wimbledon’s ‘old man’

Nick Kyrgios takes on Wimbledon’s ‘old man’

REUTERS
Published : Jun 26, 2016, 10:51 pm IST
Updated : Jun 26, 2016, 10:51 pm IST

Nick Kyrgios described his first-round clash with the oldest man at Wimbledon — wily Czech Radek Stepanek — as “pretty crazy” on Saturday, saying the 37-year-old had been offering to help coach him.

Nick Kyrgios described his first-round clash with the oldest man at Wimbledon — wily Czech Radek Stepanek — as “pretty crazy” on Saturday, saying the 37-year-old had been offering to help coach him.

Stepanek likes nothing better than to make life difficult for more celebrated opponents, as world number two Andy Murray discovered last month when he came within two points of defeat in the first round of the French Open.

But Stepanek, the oldest man in the singles, may end up regretting offering the Australian tips on how to win matches when the two face off on Tuesday.

“To play Stepanek obviously is pretty tough. I’m really good mates with him as well,” 21-year-old Kyrgios, who has been bumped up from his world ranking of 18 to 15th seed, told reporters.

“He was just helping me a little bit. So ... Playing him now, it’s pretty crazy.”

Asked what kind of pointers he had been given by Stepanek, who coincidentally was the first player the Australian faced when he made his grand slam debut at the French Open in 2013, Kyrgios swiftly changed the subject.

Location: Canada, Ontario, London