Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. (Image: Getty.)
has opened up on the daunting task of facing the likes of , , and at the peak of their powers.
The Aussie has been one of the most recognisable figures on the over the past few years, with a serve feared by all who faced him, but so far, he has failed to deliver a Grand Slam win.
The closest Kyrgios came was a final berth against Djokovic in 2022, which was won by the Serb, in the only final that the 29-year-old made throughout his career.
And Kyrgios has since explained he was “f***ed” coming up against not just the ‘Big Four’ but also the high level of the top 15 at the time.
“I was talking to someone the other day. Like, I remember when I was making like fourth rounds and quarterfinals of a Grand Slam and I was like, by far the worst player in the draw,” Kyrgios recalled on the show.
“Like, one year in Australian Open, it was fourth round and then the players were like, obviously the four guys: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, like in their prime.
“Then you had [Stan] Wawrinka in his prime, [Marin] Cilic in his prime, [Gael] Monfils, [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga, [Richard] Gasquet, [Tomas] Berdych, [Juan Martin] Del Potro, [Kei] Nishikori. I was like, I’m f***ed.”
Nick Kyrgios lamented the incredible quality of players in the previous era. (Image: UTS.)
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Murray, who won just three Slams throughout his glittering career compared to the 20-plus titles belonging to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, won six out of his seven matches against Kyrgios – four of those victories coming in Majors.
And even if Kyrgios had overcome the British great, he knew that he had more tough tests to follow, there was never an easy path to a final.
“That era was like, I was like, I’m not winning,” Kyrgios explained. “Like I got chopped against Murray fourth round so many times and now I think it’s a good opportunity. I felt I could win but I never felt like I was going to win a Slam. Not with those four in their prime. It was impossible.
“How are you going to beat three or four of them to win? It’s not possible. No one’s ever done it. Like [David] Nalbandian did it one time in a Masters event. No one ever did it in a Grand Slam.
“Well then you’ve got to get past someone in the fourth round, like Nishikori as well. And it’s not possible. Yeah, it’s a joke. I remember those days, I was just like, if you made fourth round, it was an amazing week. It was like, I did the best I could. Crazy.”