SUMMARY
- Nick Kyrgios interviewed Jay Shetty on his podcast recently.
- The two bonded over shared experiences of going against the grain.
Nick Kyrgios is one of the most rumbunctious players on the tour. Even though Kyrgios has been the subject of ridicule and rants for his demeanor, he has always stayed true to himself. However, leading an authentic life has made him happier.
Kyrgios launched his talk show, ‘Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios’ last month. He teamed up with Naomi Osaka’s media company, Hana Kuma, to set up this venture. The show features Kyrgios interviewing various personalities from different fields. Jay Shetty, the well-known British author and podcaster, was the latest person to join Kyrgios on his podcast.
As they traded experiences, both Kyrgios and Shetty found a lot of common ground throughout the episode. One of the major areas where Nick paralleled Shetty’s experiences was that of being defiant. Jay spoke of how society has conditioned everyone to live the same way. So whenever someone “went against the grain,” they were labeled rebellious, something Kyrgios resonated with.
Nick spoke of how he found it hard to live the life of someone he was not. When he started living more authentically, even if it came with the title of being the ‘Bad Boy of Tennis’, he was happier.
“So I actually have spent my entire life trying to be something that I’m not which was trying to be a classy tennis player and carry myself like a true gentleman, which I am but on the court I’m not. So it’s like that was against the grain for me but then when I started just being myself I started finding some happiness,” he said (via Tennis-Infinity).
Nick Kyrgios is a polarizing figure, and he has not shied away from ruffling a few feathers. He has shed light on some personal aspects in his podcast, including his aspirations.
Nick Kyrgios opens up about giving up his dreams
The Australian ace is a talented tennis player. He won the Australian Open junior title in 2013, and he continued his excellence when he made his professional debut.
Kyrgios has openly spoken of his love for basketball and how he wanted to become a basketball player. He has even been compared to several NBA stars due to his fiery temperament. However, instead of basketball, his parents got him into tennis.
During his interview with Jamele Hill, he spoke of how much he loved the sport. He also wished that if he could turn back time, he would chase his basketball dream.
“I loved basketball. I loved the culture. I used to sit there watching VCR tapes and CDs of Vince Carter, and Nike Dunks, and I loved everything about basketball, the camaraderie, the teamwork. I kind of want to turn the clock back and follow that NBA dream,” he said.
Nick Kyrgios has been away from the tennis courts for over a year now. Injuries have sidelined his career, but he is trying to make a comeback as soon as possible.
