'I could get under his skin pretty easily': Nick Kyrgios reveals his honest opinion on a match against John McEnroe

Nick Kyrgios has never been one to shy away from an honest answer or a bold claim.

The outspoken Australian has built a reputation as one of tennis’s most unpredictable, entertaining, and headline-grabbing figures, and now, during a candid interview as part of TNT Sports’ Wimbledon coverage, Kyrgios has stirred up a storm once again.

This time, by claiming he would have rattled tennis legend John McEnroe into a default if the two had ever gone head-to-head.

When asked which player from history he would’ve liked to face, Kyrgios didn’t hesitate."John McEnroe," he replied. "I think he would have been defaulted because I could get under his skin pretty easily.".

The comment immediately lit up tennis circles, with fans and pundits speculating about how a hypothetical clash between two of the game’s most volatile personalities would have played out.

Kyrgios’s claim may sound exaggerated, but given both players' fiery tempers and history of run-ins with umpires, it’s not hard to imagine fireworks erupting on court.

While Kyrgios’s career has included explosive incidents, most notably his infamous chair-throwing disqualification in Rome in 2019, McEnroe’s own resume includes a notorious default at the 1990 Australian Open. In that match, McEnroe was disqualified for three code violations after leading Mikael Pernfors by two sets to one.

His offences included unsportsmanlike conduct, racket abuse, and swearing at umpire Gerry Armstrong.

Looking back on the incident years later, McEnroe admitted that while he didn’t believe he deserved to be defaulted in that particular match, there were “a few others” where he probably did.

"I pushed it to the limit a lot," McEnroe told The New York Times in 2015.

Kyrgios, 30, may be best known today for his dramatic flair and unfiltered interviews, but the Australian remains one of the few active players to have beaten Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, a feat few can match.

His most memorable performance came at Wimbledon 2022, where he reached his first Grand Slam singles final, losing to Djokovic in four sets.

However, injury struggles have plagued him since, with Kyrgios notably absent from many recent major tournaments. Despite that, his insight during media duties has been refreshingly raw and often, provocative.

When asked during the TNT Sports interview to name his favourite match, Kyrgios chose not his Wimbledon final, but a 2017 semifinal clash with Roger Federer at the Miami Open. "Probably against Roger Federer in Miami," Kyrgios recalled. "It was a crazy atmosphere to play in and that match is very well known.".