Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has opened up about how she was blindsided when controversial Aussie Nick Kyrgios made an unexpected appearance in her coaching box at Wimbledon.
Disrupted by knee and wrist injuries, Kyrgios will not be involved as a player at Wimbledon, making this the third consecutive year he has missed out.
His last appearance on the court at Wimbledon came in 2022, when he lost the final to Novak Djokovic.
Last year the 30-year-old was a part of the BBC’s punditry team, alongside Tim Henman and John McEnroe, but was not included this time around.
The broadcaster’s decision to include the Australian on the panel 12 months after he admitted to assaulting his former girlfriend Chiara Passari – but avoided a criminal conviction – was met with a fierce backlash from the public and MPs.
Kyrgios was also overlooked by ESPN this year despite featuring on their panel at the Australian Open, and previously worked for the Tennis Channel and TNT Sports.
Naomi Osaka got her Wimbledon title tilt off to a good start by defeating Talia Gibson 6-4 7-6
Nick Kyrgios was spotted in Osaka’s player’s box – but the Japanese star had no idea that he was courtside
However, the Aussie firebrand is at the event this year after securing a punditry role with TalkSport – and on day one of the tournament he watched Osaka in action on Court 18.
Kyrgios, who is signed to Osaka’s management group, is set to play mixed doubles with the Japanese star at the US Open in August.
Following her 6-4 7-6 win over Talia Gibson, Osaka was asked about Kyrgios in her player’s box and she admitted she had no idea he was there.
‘Oh, he was there? I did not hear anything, OK,’ she said.
Osaka added: ‘Oh, my God. I jokingly told someone, “Hey, I know Nick’s around, maybe he wants to come to my match”.
‘But I was joking, because I know we’re two completely different players. Honestly, I would have loved to come to his matches, because I know he’s pretty fun.
‘Yeah, I think that’s also a big part of why we’re different is because I know he kind of tells his box what to do, and he probably would have noticed if I was in there. I kind of zone out most of the time.
‘That’s a little embarrassing that he was there.
Kyrgios is set to play mixed doubles with the Japanese star (pictured together) at the US Open in August
Kyrgios’ last appearance on the court at Wimbledon came in 2022, when he lost the men’s singles final to Novak Djokovic
‘I guess it is cool that he was there.’
Kyrgios has been tormented by a succession of injuries in the last two-and-a-half years and has only played six singles and three doubles matches since the start of 2023, winning one of each.
But the prospect of the short-form event at the US Open with Osaka, and a star-studded cast, has persuaded him to enter along with a series of intriguing pairings.
Only two of the 20 current top-10 male and female players have to date declined to put their names forward in a victory for the organisers’ rebrand, the creation of which drew condemnation from regular doubles players including Australia’s Ellen Perez.
Men’s No.1 Jannik Sinner has paired with American women’s world No.9 Emma Navarro and men’s No.2 Carlos Alcaraz with former US Open winner Emma Raducanu. Women’s No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has linked up with men’s No.19 Grigor Dimitrov.
Men’s No.9 Holger Rune and women’s No.2 Coco Gauff are the current top-10 players not to have entered so far, nor have Australian No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina – the entry window closes on July 28.
However, de Minaur said he and his British fiancée Kate Boulter, currently world No.39, were planning on doing so.
‘We’re definitely going to be keen to try and play if they allow us to and if they want us to,’ he said. ‘If that’s an option, then we’ll definitely be up for it.’
Sixteen teams have signed up with the top eight with the best combined singles ranking guaranteed a place along with eight wildcard entries.
Kyrgios and Osaka would need a wildcard, being ranked 633rd and 57th respectively, but given the revamp is aimed at attracting more fans, viewers and sponsors there is little doubt such a high-profile duo would get one.
