Nick Kyrgios reveals why his failures have turned him into a better man as the tennis star opens up about starting a family with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi

Over the course of his colorful tennis career, Nick Kyrgios’ undoubted talent was often derailed by his fiery temperament.

He is better known for aInsulting officials, insulting competitors and destroying rackets then lifting major trophies, even though I had never actually managed to win a singles title at a Grand Slam event.

But tennis’s Australian bad boy says he’s not as hot-headed as he seems, and with his competitive career prematurely over due to persistent injuries, he’s had plenty of time to think.

“I only knew how to play one way,” 28-year-old Kyrgios told Daily Mail Australia at QT Melbourne on Thursday, ahead of the Australian Open starting next week.

“I was passionate, I wore my emotions on my sleeve and I loved to compete,” he added, after a promotional game of pickleball with fellow tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Frances Tiafoe.

While he justifies his fiery attitude, he acknowledges that it often came at a cost.

“I’ve gotten a lot of criticism for the way I carry myself or the way I do things,” he said.

‘It was very difficult sometimes. It brought me to a dark place. I think I now understand that I can’t please everyone.’

But whatever fans think of Kyrgios, there is one person he has not failed to ‘please’: girlfriend Costeen Hatzi.

The couple became Instagram official in December 2021, and two months later the Wimbledon champion said Hatzi was the One who “brought out the best in him.”

Now he’s preparing to take their relationship to the next level.

‘I’m at the stage where I want to settle down and start a family. I think that’s incredibly normal,” he said of their union.

‘I’ve lost in tennis, I’ve lost in love, I’ve lost in everything. I feel like you have to lose it to learn what you have,” he added.

‘We have a great relationship. I want to keep doing the right things so that we can grow.’

Despite his desire to start the rest of his life with Hatzi, Kyrgios said they have “nothing planned” this year in terms of an engagement or pregnancy.

“I’ve got a lot of big things I’m trying to focus on right now. But who knows? “Anything can happen,” he added.

It comes as Kyrgios is set to return to tennis commentary at Eurosport, where he will come face to face with former world number 1 Boris Becker, who has been an outspoken critic of Kyrgios in the past.

Eurosport announced earlier this week that Kyrgios and Becker were part of a star-studded line-up of tennis big names to share their thoughts at the first grand slam of the year.

And fans quickly noticed that things could get tense between the two following their bitter feud in late 2023, in which the The Australian questioned the tennis legend’s legacy And used the German’s recent prison sentence as ammunition in their war of words.

Despite this, Kyrgios said he would welcome any potential awkwardness with the 56-year-old and believes it could make for good television.

“For the sport and for Eurosport I actually think it’s really good because I think it will create some excitement there and people will tune in,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Ultimately I am a very black and white person. I stand by my comments. I think Novak is the pinnacle of tennis. I think no matter which generation takes on Novak, he will come out on top.

“Some of these older guys, this older generation, they took it personally. I understand, my parents are old too…they are stubborn and stuck in their ways.

‘I understand. I’m not going to sit here in thirty years and say that in thirty years I can beat and compete with the best athletes in the world.

‘I’m going to Boris, and I’m going to stick to my guns and it’s going to be fun. I look forward. It’s going to be entertaining either way.”

Judging by Kyrgios’ comments, the air hasn’t been cleared since their fight, which will make the television all the more fascinating.

Eurosport revealed the Canberra-born star will bring his ‘unique perspectives’ to the tournament.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Nick Kyrgios to our English commentary team this year and know fans will benefit from his unique perspective and proximity to the current crop of champions and competitors taking the field this year,” said Eurosport boss Scott Young. .

In addition to Kyrgios and Becker behind the Eurosport microphones, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Justine Henin, Alex Corretja, Barbara Schett, Tim Henman and Laura Robson will be present.