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July 1, 2024 - Uncensored - Piers Morgan
41:14
20240701_nick-kyrgios-vs-piers-morgan-round-2
Transcriber: nvidia/parakeet-tdt-0.6b-v2, sat-12l-sm, and large-v3-turbo
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Time Text
Public Perception vs Reality 00:10:27
That is the only clip we're putting out.
Well, few public figures have feuded so publicly, explosively and bitterly at times as the tennis superstar Nick Kirios and me.
I once called him a monumental asshole.
He told me to eat a dick.
Well, last time we spoke, we were separated by 5,500 miles and a video link.
I mean, we kind of made up, but now's the real test because he's right here in the uncensored studio, Nick Kirios.
How are you, Piers?
It's good to meet you at last.
I will say I never thought in my entire life that I'd be sitting next to you and actually enjoying your company.
How do you feel about being in the uncensored studio?
I feel good.
It's a great setup.
And yeah, it's good to be back in London.
I mean, I can't think of anyone probably more suited to a show called Uncensored than you.
Yeah, I mean, in my tennis career, and I feel like we've got to know each other a bit better now.
But yeah, I say what I think most of the time.
Do you think, as I think you are, having got to know you, do you think you're massively misunderstood or have you deliberately allowed the mythology to grow?
I definitely think I am misunderstood a little bit.
I think people on the street and, you know, when they look at me, they think I'm going to always be doing something crazy.
And is this guy going to lose his marbles at any time?
But it's just something, I guess, that I've been branded with.
And I think I've kind of run with it a little bit, I guess.
But my closest family and friends know that I'm actually quite calm.
You're a lot more chilled, actually, to meet than perhaps the public persona suggests.
Is that reality or can you blow up in your own life?
No, it's definitely reality.
I'm very calm and everyone that knows me.
I'm very like, they have to get me out of the house.
Let's go do this.
I'm very chilled, but people think I'm always like going to do something crazy, unpredictable.
And I feel like when we chatted the first time, we kind of got each other straight away and we're actually very similar.
Completely.
The thing I was going to ask you about before we get any further was a really interesting moment in world sport, which I thought only somebody like you who's been in that cauldron could understand A, what was going on and B, what may be the repercussions.
Rory McElroy in the US Open Golf missed two like three foot putts, having successfully completed 496 putts in that distance in this season.
And it was seen as a massive choke and something that cost him the major he hasn't won in 10 years and so on.
What did you make of that moment?
And what do you think was going through his head and what will be going through his head now?
Well, I mean, as athletes, we're always taught to stay in the moment, trust the process and not kind of get ahead of yourselves.
And I think when you're that close to something that basically your whole life you're preparing for, you've got to putt that easy.
I mean, that'd be like a smash on top of the net to win Wimbledon, basically.
And that's just thinking ahead, like, oh my God, I'm going to do it.
I'm going to finally win.
And then you actually don't stay present in the moment, miss those puts.
And now, I guess this is what makes an athlete.
How well can you bounce back?
You know, you look at some of our great champions, like I'm using an example like Novak the year that he was deported out of Australia and then he came back and won the Australian Open.
So how he's going to come back after something like this is a true test.
What's been the toughest test for you like that?
Where maybe you've not necessarily choked, but maybe you have choked?
Yeah, well, I've lost matches from match point up and it takes a month, you know, even to be like, how are you?
You're one point away and you can't, you know, translate that into a win.
But for me, my toughest moment's this wrist injury.
You know, I was two sets away from winning Wimbledon and I know how much you would have loved that.
Actually, I would have, though.
I think by the time you got to that point, I was rooting for you.
Yeah, but, you know, this has been the hardest point for me, being so close and then being held back by some injuries and how I'm going to respond from that is ultimately.
Tell me about the injury.
Did you realize how bad it was at the time?
No, at the time I didn't.
I was going, I was having pain in my knee and my wrist and I kind of just played through it.
I had a couple of people looking at it and they were like, you probably should, you know, slow down or maybe take some time off.
I kept playing through it and then obviously got to a point where I kind of had to take a step back and get it right.
But it's coming along well and hopefully you'll be seeing me before the end of the year.
It's been a year since you had the, you haven't played competitive tennis in a year.
Have you had moments in that period where you thought, actually, I may not make it back?
Oh, definitely.
I think that's the hardest thing about being an athlete and having an injury like this is like, is it worth it?
Like the training now is more vigilant than if I was playing on court.
It's like, and you can't miss any day.
So it's actually more tiring and it's harder.
And it's like, you know, I'm getting to, I'm nearly 30.
It's like, do I want to keep putting my body through this?
But definitely, I feel the fire in the belly still.
And I'm seeing, it hurts me to see guys like Andy Murray and all these guys getting injured now when they're, you know, they've pushed the boundaries.
Like they've got nothing left in the barrel.
And I feel like I've still got a lot left.
So when are you going to play again?
Hopefully by the end of the year.
US Open is still a chance as well.
So I'm taking it day by day.
And I know we've got some ping pong to play too.
So I'm going to.
I'm going to challenge you to table tennis.
What you may not know is I'm better than you think I am.
I mean, yeah, but I don't know how good I think you are.
We're going to find out, aren't we?
That'll be fun.
The trash talking will stop when we get to the table tennis.
Yeah.
We've got a table upstairs.
I'm ready.
We're going to play a full game of 21 and we've got a little bit of jeopardy for it, which you're aware of.
I'm ready.
Where one of us, the loser, will have to wear a very demeaning hoodie.
And they don't intend it to be me.
I'm ready.
I've seen scarier opponents.
When you...
Really?
Interesting.
We'll see how scared you feel when we get across the net from each other.
You're here in Wimbledon.
It's a big part of your life, Wimbledon, isn't it?
It's become something where I know you go up to Wimbledon Village.
You're the hero of the palace.
The British public love you, love to hate you.
Some of them just hate you.
But they never ignore you.
They love you being part of Wimbledon.
You're kind of the modern day McEnroe in that sense.
Do you see a comparison with you and him?
Definitely.
And as you said, Wimbledon is actually such an important part of my life.
Like I was sitting in the Wimbledon Village with my partner and my agent.
And I was just saying, like, it's been 13 years of coming here every year.
And it's such a big part, like my whole tennis year.
And this is circled on the calendar.
It's like Wimbledon is our goal.
And just being around, not playing, I just love being here.
Like, I love going through the village.
And as you said, like, people in the pub screaming out, Kirios, get a pint.
I'm like, maybe not just yet.
Which is your favourite pub in the?
Dog and Fox.
Like, I think I've had so many great members.
Because I trained on the Wimbledon News.
That was my first proper paper.
And I used to go up there all the time, a dog and fox.
Yeah, it's just amazing.
I love just being here.
And even though I'm not playing, commentating and still giving value to the game, I think.
And people have been really nice, by the way.
Like everyone's coming up saying, oh, you're playing?
I'm not just yet.
They're like, oh, I can't wait to hear you commentate.
So I feel like the public perception is actually a bit different.
Now, you over the years have got irritated by sharp commentary.
Yes.
When commentators have called you out, you've gone after them.
You've felt outraged, affronted, insulted.
And now here you are in the commentary box and you're going to have to do that yourself.
Are you going to hold back or are you going to be full Kirios?
No, I'm one of the commentators that I don't drill players.
No, I won't drill them as hard as I've been drilled.
I mean, if they're making a mistake or doing something a bit silly, I might say, oh, I know that I can't, I don't really have a leg to stand on if they're breaking a racket or something.
Because it's quite interesting this week.
We've got the Euro football tournament, obviously.
And the England team have been under a lot of stick for not performing very well in the group stage.
But the captain, Harry Kane, came out and coated Gary Denika and the older guys and said, don't forget that you guys also failed to win a tournament and also played badly and also got bagged by the media and so on.
Exactly.
Does that resonate with you when he said that?
Yeah, it does.
And I also know how hard it is.
It's a brutal sport.
And Wimbledon is like the absolute top of anything you can achieve.
So I know the pressure that all these players are going through.
Is that the number one for you?
Definitely.
Is it for most players, do you think?
Is it?
Yeah, because people that don't know tennis, they still know Wimbledon.
And if you have the Queen watching, you have the Royal Family watching.
And, you know, when the Royal Family was there watching me and I was just swearing, I was like, this is an experience for everyone.
Are you a big monarchist?
Would you believe in the monarchy, the royal family?
I guess so.
There's a debate in Australia, as you know, about whether they should continue to have royal family as the head of state.
I don't even.
I'm so under the rock with everything.
Only news I listen to is probably you, which I don't like saying.
Really?
Yeah.
Love that.
Yeah.
So I'm your portal for news.
Yeah.
It's funny.
Why?
Because it's entertaining.
And you're yourself.
Like now that I know you, I think I know you a little bit.
Like it's it's authentic, which I like.
Which I think the same about you.
Yeah.
I think you're true to yourself.
I definitely.
And I don't mind what people are like if I believe they're true to themselves.
Even if they're like lively, volatile, whatever, I'd much prefer that to people who pretend to be something they've known.
Of course.
I agree.
Because we're living in a very sort of strange world where a lot of people feel too cowed to say what they think.
I agree.
Do you feel that?
I agree.
Yeah, I think people, I think they're a bit scared to even just ask a question or question why things are happening.
But yeah, I mean, these are strange times with social media and everything going on.
Like I strongly like, I mean, I find power in being myself because of the youth.
When they come up to me and they're like, oh, Kyrios, like, I love the way you do this and I love the way you play.
And then I see that I can actually inspire.
Like, I never saw that the early stages of my career.
I was like, why would anyone look up to me?
And now I kind of understand that I have a responsibility.
Like, you can't just go out doing volatile things and just expect there to be no repercussions.
Like, I have to be better.
You're also at some stage going to have kids.
Yes.
You would like that?
Yes, definitely.
And when you do, you're going to be that child's absolute role model.
Definitely.
Is that in the back of your mind?
100%.
You know, I know when they're going to go on YouTube and type in Nick Kirios, there are going to be some things there that I'm going to be like, oof, maybe I shouldn't have done that.
Top three worst things you don't want your kids to read about you on Google?
When you look back.
I mean, I don't want them to think that I was someone that couldn't hold my temper because I definitely do think that off the court, I'm actually very calm and I don't get angry and I'm super chilled.
But I don't want them to think that when they come with struggle, that that's a good way to just, you know, I guess solve things with anger.
You know, I want them to take a step back and, you know, re-evaluate things and take it with a calm sort of step.
I don't even know what's talked about me on Google these days, though.
I would hate to type it in, to be honest.
Worst Things Kids Read About You 00:15:10
Do you ever Google Nick Kirios?
I used to when I was a bit younger because I used to take in everything and negative things used to affect me and positive things used to affect me.
But now it's, I know that I'm true to myself and I actually am, I feel like I'm a very good person.
So I know there's always going to be people out there talking about something.
John McEnroe said if he, if I was on social media as much as Nick Kirios, I'd be in the slammer.
He said that this week.
I mean, look, I'm a businessman at this point in time as well.
You know, so I use social media to do a lot of things.
And I don't think John McEnroe knows exactly how social media works.
But yeah, he's lucky that he didn't play in this day and age because I don't know how that would have gone for the big fella.
How do you think it would have gone?
I don't think it would have gone very well.
Like I know that, I mean, I do wish that me and him did party together.
I do.
We had a couple.
Pete is Geralitis.
I mean, those guys had a great time.
Yeah, but at the same time, like, I know that he would have probably lashed out a little bit too much at people on social media.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Have you ever played him competitively?
No, we were.
He's a bit older than I am, but I've hit with him.
He was the captain of Team World for many, many years.
So yeah, it would have been good.
Pete McEnroe v. Pete Kirios.
That's an easy walk for me, I think.
Really?
Yeah.
You'd have beaten him?
I think so.
Really?
I think so.
At Wimbledon, centre call.
I mean, I'm serving pretty big.
Like, McEnroe's, I mean, it's different.
It's a different era.
You think he couldn't cope with your serving?
I mean, Federer and Nadal and Novak have struggled.
So I don't know how McEnroe is going to go against returning myself.
He's going to watch this.
He realises.
I know that.
Hey, I'm confident in my ability and I have utmost respect.
It'd be tough.
It'd be a tough match, but...
Would he have won a set against you?
I think I'm returning his serve.
I don't know.
I don't think so.
Really?
McEnroe wouldn't win a set.
Hey, it's different eras.
And I know that he'd probably think that he would beat me, but there were 225 kilometre serves coming at you.
It's different out there.
You'd have bombed him away.
I would have bombed him away.
I can't wait for this.
I've got to see him next week.
It's going to be tense in there.
Because I love his commentary, actually.
I do.
I do.
But he does call players out when he sees it.
You're wary of doing that.
Yeah, I'm not going to...
I don't think...
I mean, I've got a bit of a commentating career already.
I did Australian Open.
I just don't think there's any sort of positive things that can come from...
Like a player knows when they're not having a good day or when they're doing something wrong.
Like when I come off the court, when I lost to Andy Murray that fourth round and I was throwing a bit of a tantrum, I already knew that my behavior wasn't good.
And you're like, oh, go pack up your toys and go back to Australia.
You made me feel so bad about myself.
I was like, I already knew.
Good, you deserved it.
Exactly.
But like, I'm not going to go out there and air it on TV because I know that I'm not perfect.
Like, I'm not going to do that.
That's just my sort of position on the commentating page.
Do you think people understand what it takes to be an elite athlete, to be an elite sportsman?
It's hard because they see us at Wimbledon on centre court or just playing Wimbledon.
And that's not any of the hard work.
Like, that's the tip of the iceberg.
Like, everything behind the scenes, the training, the injuries, the setbacks, you know, the internal issues, that's what actually is 95% of the journey.
Where then, like, you're seeing us at Wimbledon playing in all whites, like, that's just the outcome of everything that's happened.
So I don't know if they know to the extent and how hard it actually is.
Like, it's pretty hard.
I mean, you said that for the last year, you've had to do really intensive work to get back to being able to play again, even more than you would if you were playing regularly.
I mean, talk me through a day in that period.
What's it been like?
Oh, so we'll do, you know, you wake up and then you'll do an hour of just straight conditioning.
You want to make sure that your body's, you know, when you're returning, that you're fit enough to play.
And then you'll hit for an hour and a half to two hours.
And then you'll do like a lift in the afternoon, which is just strength.
And then you're going to get physio.
And then it's just like, by that time, your day's gone, then you're trying to eat well.
And then it's just, that's basically the cycle until you get it.
I want to repeat one more time.
Yeah.
It takes a lot of mental strength to do this kind of thing.
It does.
Like you said, I mean, you've had moments in the last year, as you said, where you've thought about packing it in.
When you have that thought process, what is it that ticks away in your brain that stops you doing that?
I guess my fans, my family, you know, I feel like they strongly believe that I've got more in the tank, especially my fans.
You know, on every day on social media, they're like, when are you coming back?
I know that there are a lot of people that want me to come back and play.
And it's hard.
Like, I've genuinely thought about, is it worth me doing all of this?
What was the lowest moment for you in my last year?
I guess about three months ago, I wasn't having the improvement in my wrist that I wanted.
And I was like, maybe I'll never get back to that level.
Like, we look at some players that are calling it, like Dominic Team, who's a Grand Slam champion, and he's now retiring at the end of the year because he hasn't had the improvement in his wrist.
And it's like that, for me, scary because maybe that is something that could happen.
But I have to embrace that.
Like, I haven't had as much success as, say, as Andy Murray or Novak, but I've had a great time and I've had more success than most athletes do have.
So I can't be selfish in wanting more, I don't think.
Who talks you around when you're like that?
And who do you have that you think that you go to, perhaps?
Is it family?
Is it friends?
Is it management?
Is it all of them?
It's, I mean, not everyone's really supportive, but I mean, my partner has been such a support.
I mean, my girlfriend is, she sees, you know, the ups and downs of, you know, she was there when I had an amazing run and nearly won Wimbledon.
And then she's with me now when I'm injured.
So she's been there by my side through literally the best year of my career and now not being able to play a professional tennis match for a year.
So that's been a real help.
She's been a real.
Are you going to be rewarding her in the time-honored fashion?
Oh, yeah.
I mean, she gets rewarded every day, Piers.
No, I was talking about a more honorable.
gentlemanly thing.
Yeah, no, I don't know what you were talking about with a large rock and a trip to a church.
Possibly.
Yeah, I mean, I'm getting to 30.
So I mean, I do want to.
She's crossed your mind.
Definitely.
She's here, isn't she?
She is here.
She is here.
So she's watching this very carefully.
I know, but I mean, if I lose to you in ping pong and table tennis, I don't know if she'll be with me.
How long have you been together now?
Two and a half years.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's pretty serious for you.
Very serious, yeah.
I mean, look, I think where I'm at as where I'm at in my life, I think, yeah, that's, she's the one for sure.
Really?
Yeah.
Have you thought about how you're going to propose?
No, not yet.
I've got bigger fish to fry at the moment.
You know, I want to try and get a good more year or two out of my tennis career and then we'll see.
Andy Murray looks like he may or may not make it.
We'll know probably by the time this interview airs.
But I mean, he's come back from so many injuries and now he's had another one.
What do you feel about him as a player and as a man?
I mean, amazing athlete.
I think one of the best that's ever stepped on court.
And reputation-wise, like you, I don't think one person says anything bad about Andy in the locker room.
It's like, you know what you're going to get, amazing competitor.
But at this stage, like he's always been extremely supportive of me and my career.
And we've had a great friendship.
But I just wish that, you know, I think it pains me to see him.
And these are not small injuries.
Like, they're injuries that can actually affect your life moving forward with your family and how it looks like moving forward.
So it's just like at this point, this should be, in my opinion, his last Wimbledon.
You know, I think he's achieved everything that you could possibly achieve.
I think he's fearful of retirement.
He said this to the Sunday Times.
He said, for most people, in most jobs, retirement is seen as a positive thing.
They're retired at a specific age, something you look forward to, time to put your feet up, enjoy the rest of your life.
But I don't see it like that.
I'm not happy about it.
Do you understand that?
I understand that.
And I guess me being here talking to Piers Morgan, I grew up in Canberra, Australia, and I think I've got so many amazing things happening in my life.
Not only tennis, but I think if he, I mean, he's got a beautiful family.
Like he's got so many other amazing things in his life that he could be enjoying.
But it's the cauldron of competition, I think.
But I mean, I could play dominoes with you right here and I could get a little rush of competition.
There's competition everywhere.
Well, we're going to play tables in it.
That's what I mean.
We'll definitely get a rush.
I've interviewed a lot of sportsmen.
And the one thing that is a common theme, all of them, when they retire, find it incredibly difficult.
Michael Phelps, I interviewed him at the peak of his powers and yet afterwards had a lot of mental health issues.
A lot of sportsman cricketers who've had to retire with injuries in their early 30s and they suddenly, they're not performing in front of 40,000, 50,000 people.
It's a big, big sea change in your life to not have that adrenaline rush.
It is.
I mean, I spoke to Jay Shetty.
He came on my podcast and he told me that one of the last people that he interviewed for, he passed away was Kobe Bryant.
And Kobe was one of the most peacefully retired athletes ever.
You know, Jay was telling me that I think it's how you look at it.
Like tennis for me, I don't identify as a tennis player.
It's more so like it's just one way of my communication.
Like I have a good trouble podcast and I've got tennis and I've got so many other things.
Like they're just ways that I communicate to the world.
Where I think if you look at it like that, I think Andy needs to maybe try and find of how he can still communicate.
And I guess for him, he might be afraid to let go because he thinks that that's all he is.
But you've got a great family.
You're a good human.
He could do anything he wants.
But that letting go of tennis for him might be hard.
But I think he'll be fine.
What about Novak Djokovic?
Where does he rank for you in the pantheon of players?
I mean, he's, for me, he's probably the greatest to ever do it.
Greatest of all time.
Greatest of all time.
I think the prettiest to watch is Federer.
Like the best to ever pick up a racket is Novak.
You said about Novak a few years ago that he had a sick obsession with wanting to be liked.
Yes.
What did you mean by that?
I felt when he came on court, he always, and I'm actually, I reckon he's listened to this.
And because now when he goes on court, he doesn't care.
He goes on court and he's okay at being a villain.
Like when people scream out to him and I watched him, they poke the bear and he turns around and he ends up playing amazing and he can't be beaten.
And early in his career, I felt like he always wanted the crowds to be on his side.
He always wanted people to embrace him.
And now I feel like he's listened to that and now he actually embraces being the villain because he's a bit of an anti-hero in the tennis world.
I don't think he's got a lot of people that love him and also don't like him and he embraces that.
Why do people not like him, do you think?
I don't know if they, maybe because he wins a lot.
I mean, people tend to not.
I can annoy people who don't win.
Exactly.
But I mean, I think he just, he's not as perfect to the eye, I guess, as Roger and Rafa.
I think he's got a bit of that mean streak in him, which I actually really like.
If you all were at your absolute peak, though, you think he would be the one that would prevail?
Yes.
I think he beats the other two.
Really?
Yeah.
Which is pretty staggering given how good they are.
Yeah.
But I always told Andy, I told Andy this, that I think he didn't do as well as he should have against Novak.
I think he matched up really well against Novak.
And you can ask him now.
I always tell Andy that.
Who in all of sport, any sport, who do you most admire?
I'm obviously big into basketball, but the thing about tennis that's amazing to me, and I think I put Novak up in one of the best athletes to ever do any sort of sport is because the intangibles in tennis, like you're traveling to a new place every single week.
You've got a new time zone, new diet, new, you basically, you have no routine.
And in any sport, you know where you're going to be.
You know when your flights are with tennis is like nothing is cemented.
So you've got to just keep adapting.
His ability to win in so many different circumstances is second to none.
His mentality, I watched him at Wimbledon a few years ago and he was losing and I'd never seen him play before live.
And I suddenly just looked at him working himself up.
And then before I knew it, he'd blown this guy away.
So he was an English player.
Just blew him away.
But he was down, like a set down and it looked like he was struggling.
But then suddenly out of nowhere, it just turned up the heat.
Yeah, he's got experience.
When I played him in the final, I felt like I won the first set.
I was like, wow.
And I knew that I had to stay in the moment, but I was like, okay, I'm only two sets away.
And he was just so composed.
Man, he's played in over 30 Grand Slam finals.
Like, I knew that I didn't have the experience where he was just calm, collected.
What's the best and worst thing about Novak?
The best thing about Novak, I think, he's actually very down to earth.
Like, he's a very good guy.
Like, people, when you have that much success, you could be an absolute knob.
Where like he's just like really down earth, super helpful, super funny.
He's actually a joker.
Like, he's like.
And the most annoying thing about him?
He's so annoying that he let Alcaraz win Wimbledon and didn't let me win Wimbledon.
Alcaraz was always going to win more Grand Slams, but you could have given me one.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, give me one.
Alcaraz was always going to win one.
And he decided to play pretty average in that one and play lights out against me.
Oh, thanks, Novak.
Yeah, appreciate it.
You interviewed on your brilliant podcast, which I'm going to be doing after this interview.
You interviewed Mike Tyson.
The show's Good Trouble, which pretty much epitomizes Mike Tyson's life.
I mean, I watched it.
It was a really interesting interview.
I've interviewed him many times.
I find him one of the most fascinating people ever in any sport.
How did you find him?
Yeah, it was intimidating.
You know, sitting a meter away from arguably probably the most dangerous man on the planet.
And I just felt, I did feel a good energy for him though.
I feel like he had a really good heart.
And I just felt a bunch of experiences.
Like you sit next to someone, you get to, the way they articulate things, you know that he's just seen a lot of things.
And it was hard sometimes because I didn't know how to get things out of him.
Like he was very closed off, but then like I didn't want to push too much because he's unpredictable.
Yeah.
I mean, you've talked before about you like boxing.
Could you imagine when you give up tennis actually boxing?
I maybe could call out a couple of tennis players that I've always wanted to, you know.
go toe to tennis.
Who would you most like to get in a ring?
That's a hard one.
I know this is going to go crazy, but I would probably do, probably with Rinka or Titsifas.
I reckon I'd go a couple rounds with them.
Surely Novak as well, wouldn't you?
No, we'd like each other now.
Oh, really?
I feel good energy towards him.
I wouldn't want to.
But who would win if you had a fight?
I mean, I've got some size on him.
Yeah.
And I'm pretty nimble for a big fella.
You are?
Yeah.
U.S. presidential election has just had the, we just had the debate and everyone's talking about Biden was sort of overhilled and so on.
Do you have a view about this?
Obviously, whether it's the president, it does impact the entire world.
Yes.
You've been critical of Trump before.
A lot of people who were critical of him now think, you know what, better the devil we know got to be better than this guy who can barely string a sentence together.
What do you think?
Yeah, I mean, I don't, as I said, I don't really, I don't watch and like I didn't, I didn't know anything about the debate at all.
But some of the clips I've seen from Biden are pretty, they're pretty crazy.
Like he's, I mean, look, you need someone, I think, that definitely is more confident and knows at least what's going on a bit more.
So I'd probably side towards Trump.
Would you?
So you're now a Trumper.
I'm not a Trumper, but if it was between those three, probably.
I think people have got used to Trump.
Yeah.
And because they've got used to him, they find him less outlandish.
Yes, because you kind of know he's a real estate guy.
He sells everything hard.
We would have a great dinner, us three.
No question.
I've had a great dinner with him.
Dinner With Trump? No Question 00:06:18
He's hilarious.
That would be awesome.
Your family, very important to you, I know.
Your mother, Neil, lastly, told me that she'd never come to watch you play again after being fitted with a pacemaker.
If you're going to get back playing, maybe the US Open, like you said, will she be allowed to watch you?
Or is she banned forever?
No, I don't think that watching me would be on the cards for her anymore.
You know, her health has always been something that's been a battle for her.
And she came back home the other day and she was like, I think her kidneys are not functioning at the rate they're supposed to.
So I think that her days of watching me do my thing on the tennis court could be over.
So she'll have to just watch on the TV for now.
But she's super proud of everything I'm doing, you know, off the court.
And, you know, it's a big motivation for me.
You know, I think she's always supported me and she's probably the strongest woman I've met.
You know, she's battled through some serious health issues and she's still out there.
Does she like the way you've evolved as a man in public?
Yes.
I know my mother has had issues in my conduct over the years.
They'd like to see a bit of progression.
Definitely.
When they say, my boy's not like that, you actually show them you're not like that.
100%.
And I know it's been painful to her to see some of, as when you've been in hot water in the past and when I've been beating in the media and mean things have been said, she's really struggled.
And it's normal, like a mother seeing their son get absolutely destroyed in the media.
And it's hard on our family sometimes.
And I think she's super proud of how I've kind of evolved and I've learned.
And just, I could have, honestly, from 2019, I could have been a completely different person to how I am now.
So I think she's good.
People have been very judgmental about you over several things recently.
One was your previous domestic incident.
I'm not going to relitigate any of that, but you know there's been a bit of a backlash to you being allowed to be a BBC commentator at Wimbledon.
What do you say to people that think it's inappropriate?
Well, I mean, look, those things that they're bringing up have all been, you know, sorted and dealt with.
And, you know, I'm in a beautiful relationship now with my partner.
And I'm in such a good stage in my life where me working with BBC was a good opportunity for me.
And I only ever wanted to, if I'm working with someone and collaborating with them, I only ever want to bring a positive sort of, I know that articles are going to get written and these things are going to be said.
And if it affects it negatively, it's never my intent to affect.
But I just want to go into BBC.
I want to have a great time.
I want to give them something, another aspect of someone that they would never hire, which is cool.
Like, I think it's going to be good for me to get in there and bring my side to the game.
And ultimately, it's helping tennis.
I just want tennis to grow because if my kids or anyone's kids are playing tennis, like I want the sport to continue to grow and take over and eventually just be awesome.
Do we live in a very overly censorious time in the sense that in your case, I just remember that thing happening.
Yep.
And it was obviously, you know, you said by your own admission, you wished it hadn't happened.
It's something you regret, you apologize.
When people do that in public life, should they be just allowed to then, you know, show they're a different person, show their remorse, show their evolution.
Seems to me like we're very reluctant these days to let people have a second chance.
Yeah, obviously it depends on what the matter is, definitely.
But I think if it's something that people can understand and, you know, you've gone through the full story and you can clearly see the person's trying to make amends and trying to be a better person, then of course, I think like a second chance for me towards the start of my career, I genuinely thought that I was always going to be painted this person.
And it's taken a long time and a lot of media and a lot of being out there to change the perception and obviously just changing my behavior as well.
But it can be done.
And I'm thankful that people have kind of warmed up to me a little bit.
It's still hard at times, but.
I think they have a lot, actually.
Yeah.
I think you're massively more popular with people generally than you used to be.
100%.
The bad boy thing.
People look at you and think, actually, he's not that bad.
Yeah, but I mean...
He's a bit of a naughty person.
There was one guy in London that kept smashing me on social media, that Piers Morgan guy.
Only when you deserved it.
I actually think the words you're looking for are thank you, Piers, because I've been part of your evolution.
Thank you, Piers.
You've read my tweets and you've gone, you know, what?
The guy's got a point.
Look, I never hated on your...
Have I ever been wrong?
Have I ever banged you when I've been wrong?
I'm going to have to go on your Twitter feed, your ex-feed and have a look.
But I feel like it was just more of like the hatred towards my career.
It was just the behavior, fine, but the career.
You know what?
I think you've proven me wrong on that.
Thanks.
The other thing you got into hot water for some randomness, but you retweeted Andrew Tate.
And it was just a sort of throwaway line that he came out with about real love is obsessed with.
What is love if it's not obsession?
Right.
And taken on its own like that, it's a perfectly like, you know, interesting motivational thing about the power of love.
But it was by Andrew Tate.
He's a very controversial figure.
I have to say, he's not been convicted of any crime.
He's facing very serious charges.
But the backlash, again, was extraordinary.
You had women's aide, a conservative MP, Caroline Noakes, and the BBC were a disgrace to hire you because you literally just shared that post from Andrew Tate, which I think is ridiculous.
Yeah, I mean, look, at the time I had no idea with anything that was going on in his life or anything that he was allegedly doing or anything.
I was just on my phone, saw the tweet, and I was like, and it made me think, like, I think the relationship I've had with tennis or things that I do, I think I'm obsessed with tennis because I'm still here at 30 playing and I'm still training.
And it just made that particular thing for me was just a naive retweet.
And everything that's come from it is, for me, I wish, obviously, I wouldn't have done it if I knew that all of these things would have happened.
Why should you be dragged through the mincer just for sharing a post like that?
Yeah, but from somebody who's not even faced a trial yet.
I know, but I have to be a bit smarter than that because a lot of people, not everything that he does as well, is like it's not good.
So I have to be better than that because I have a lot of people that look up to me that I wouldn't, you know, I just have to be better, hands down.
Have you found out more about Tate since this incident?
Dragged Through The Mincer 00:07:29
Yes.
Well, yeah, I got told that now Kyrios is linked to him.
And I'm like, I've never said hello to the guy in my life.
I've saw one tweet and I retweeted it and I was just like, yeah.
And the more you found out, what did you think of him?
Well, yeah, I mean, especially if any of this stuff is true, then I obviously wouldn't be doing any of that.
Yeah.
We're going to go and play table tennis.
Easy.
How confident are you?
Very confident.
You're obviously a young fit athlete, the prime of a game.
It's not about the athleticism.
I just backing myself here.
But if you were to lose reputationally.
Or you, you said what?
Pretty much the end of your world, isn't it?
It is, but I back myself.
This is what I plot.
This is what I train for.
I'm going to tell all my friends that I've beaten you.
Well, we should go and get it on.
Let's do it.
All right.
I'm about to take on Nick Kirios, one of the most elite athletes in the world, by his own admission.
You would think being a top tennis player, he's probably quite good at this, but he may not be aware of just how good I am.
To add a bit of jeopardy, the loser has to put on this sweatshirt, which contains a charming description that I once used about you, Mr. Kirios.
So the winner will enjoy the loser wearing this.
Let's do it again.
All right, here we go.
Oh, wow.
Oh!
All right, deserve it.
Here we go.
All right, first of all.
Let's go.
And now we're doing serving.
It's two serves each or winner serves or no, it's five each.
Five each.
Yep.
You have to play, just to check, you have played double sense before.
Yeah, Australian knolls definitely lose.
Of course.
Yay!
Are you going to grunt like Monica the whole time?
Absolutely extraordinary noise levels.
I don't think Pierre's had much aggression in this game, so I'm going to have to have patient.
Yes!
Yes!
Just jump too early.
What a score.
2-1.
Don't speak of the players.
I won that point.
I won that point.
It's 2-1.
It's 2-1.
Two-wheel.
This guy, stop off.
Yes.
2-3.
Gotcha.
All right.
Show up.
Oh, come on.
Now I've yet to say it's easier than Andy Murray.
Sorry, it's good up there.
Yes.
Two, six.
Yep.
2-6.
7-3.
It's almost now.
It's almost.
No, it's not.
Curious a little bit of momentum.
It's a hard thing to stop.
Is it?
Yeah, looks like it.
Momentum over.
7-3.
Lice, good bolt.
Oh, come on, this is crap.
8-3.
Oh, we can't deal with the slice.
Can't deal with the slice.
Score.
9-3.
Oh, and it's all through now.
You can't deal with a slice.
Honestly, it's all over.
I can.
I can deal with a slice.
Alright, kids, you haven't done your research.
You haven't done enough work.
Score.
11.
13-3.
13-4.
I think it's no.
12-3.
Now you're at 4.
So just serve.
Your server.
Go hard.
One serve, too.
Pitty D.
Yes.
Only winning points off net tapes.
5-12.
Yep.
Wow.
Yes!
Why do you keep talking in the middle of a point though?
I'm going to fucking cry.
Look at him trashing the umpire again.
Look at him.
He can't stop himself.
12-6.
You get nervous, aren't you?
No.
I embrace it.
Yes!
Here it.
Put him up forwards.
Going into lock the other boat.
Oh, come on, that's crap.
8-6.
Did.
Bam.
Yes.
Little flash pony.
Look at him.
There we go.
Flash pony can stop himself.
We're seven.
Oh, come on.
15-7.
Yeah, 15-8.
What am I just seeing y'all?
Excuse me, crap.
Fair enough?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
What's the work? What's the work? What's the work?
16-8.
17-8-8, geez, we're getting to that point in time, aren't we?
We're ready to celebrate.
Come on!
Come on!
I know who it's worth.
That's all play.
That's absolutely.
That is the only clip we're putting out.
17-9.
Yes!
Come on!
Come on!
7-8-10, full-blade.
Good blank.
Too aggressive.
Now he has to red light.
And he knows he can't keep that level up.
You could come into play, sips.
8-8-10.
Focus on you.
Oh, you jammy kick!
Great deck!
How was that?
Hard Work Finally Paid Off 00:01:36
It was jammy.
That's the team, great.
92.
You got one more to come.
One more tip to cut.
All right, let's go.
1910.
No!
My spy, boy.
When I worked upwards at Ed!
Got a little pipe in the wrist.
What the hell?
I was seeing scarier opponents, and I still got a tight.
2011.
It's like Wobbled in 2018.
Oh my god, my hard work's paid off.
Good play.
Hey, you're pretty good.
He was a lot better than I thought he was going to be.
The loser has to put on this hoodie, which is something I called Mr. Kirios back in the day.
So I'm now going to have to put this on and I'm going to post this.
That's unbelievable.
Although I will give you a story on my Instagram saying you did put up a good fight in respect.
Who cares about a good fight?
I don't care about winning.
I am a monumental asshole.
Good play.
Good play.
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