‘Everybody wants us to go to war’: Nick Kyrgios Sorry for not being able to face Rafael Nadal

Nick Kyrgios on Friday said he was disappointed not to face Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, claiming that “everyone wants to see us out there”. The controversial Australian was awarded a free pass into Sunday’s final after 22-time major winner Nadal withdrew from their semi-final due to an abdominal injury. Kyrgios, one of the most talented yet divisive figures, is in his first major at the age of 27. If he faces Nadal, it will be his third clash. them at Wimbledon.

Kyrgios took his first win in 2014 as a 144th wild card before Nadal got his revenge in a stormy clash three years ago.

Kyrgios, who has won three of the nine encounters, said: “We had a lot of clashes, a lot of battles.

“I’m sure that at the end of the day everyone wants to see us in action. I hope he gets better.

“Obviously you never want to see someone like that, so important to sport, come down with an injury like that. I’m sure I’ll play him again on a big stage. “

Earlier on Friday, Kyrgios posted a goodwill message on Instagram to Nadal.

“Different players, different personalities. @Rafaelnadal I hope your recovery goes well and we all hope to see you well soon – until next time.”

In Sunday’s final, 40th-ranked Kyrgios will face six-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic for the title.

Kyrgios had never made it past the quarter-finals of a Slam before his current visit to the All England Club.

He made the final eight on his 2014 debut and reached the quarter-finals in Australia in 2015 but since then his career has been steeped in ups and downs rather than ups.

“I never thought I would be here, brutally honest with you,” he said.

“But I’m very proud and I’m ready to go. I’ll give it my all and we’ll see what happens.”

Kyrgios admits that the prospect of playing in his first Grand Slam final worries him.

“I probably got an hour of sleep just with everything, like excitement. I was worrying too much. I was feeling very anxious and I didn’t feel anxious very often,” he said.

Kyrgios made headlines at this year’s Wimbledon.

His spectacular strike was accompanied by a $14,000 fine, spitting at fans and a bitter defeat to third-round opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The Greeks accused him of having an “evil side” and being a “bully”.

On Friday morning, he woke up to a headline in the British newspaper describing his arrival to the final as “Wimbledon’s worst nightmare”.

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“If that’s what they want to write, I guess that’s what they want to write. I can only control what I do,” Kyrgios said.

“I’m just going out there and enjoying the moment. Since I was born, only eight people have ever won this title, like eight. I’ll try to give it my best.”