By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 28, 2022
Nick Kyrgios feels a bond with Naomi Osaka.
The four-time Grand Slam champion shared her initial impression of Kyrgios: He looked like the brother she never had.
More: Osaka on the Rise in Miami
"When I was like coming on tour, or watching him, because he's been on tour for a very long time or not very long, but long enough," Osaka said. "I don't know. I kind of thought like he was my brother. Like we kind of look the same to me."
Former world No. 1 Osaka said initially she felt Kyrgios wasn't exactly a master of stress management on court.
"And I always felt like his behavior was kind of like -- I'm not trying to be offensive; I hope he doesn't read this and take it this way -- like someone that can't really handle the pressure too well, so they are kind of overwhelmed," Osaka said.
Kyrgios and Osaka hit together earlier this month in Southern California with the explosive Kyrgios offering Osaka some serving tips. Following Kyrgios' straight-sets dismantling of Fabio Fognini on Sunday, he said he hopes the success of Osaka, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff as well as his own positive results can change tennis culture.
"I think it's a very different side to how people would perceive most tennis players," Kyrgios said. "I think it's a special thing for other colored athletes that do want to play tennis to see myself, you know, you have Tiafoe out there right now, Osaka, us doing it the way we are doing it. I think it's cool. I think it's a great idea I think for the sport. To grow the sport, it was definitely needed."
Osaka, who powered past American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-4 setting up a Miami Open quarterfinal vs. Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, said she shares a similar outlook to Kyrgis on pressure, but channels it differently.
"For me, I relate to that feeling a lot, but I think we channel it in different ways," Osaka said. "So, yeah, for me I feel like [Kyrgis] also has a lot of responsibility, because even now, coming to the practice courts, he has a lot of kids watching him.
"I don't know. I know that he loves that, but yeah, I think it's a bit of a double-sided coin."
Photo credit: Getty