Nick Kyrgios is More Than a Tennis Star! - What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast

Okay, I'm ready if you're ready. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Just a quick happy. Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> I really [ __ ] that up. [Music]. >> This is What now with Trevor Noah. [Music]. >> Happy Nick Curios Day everybody. >> Happy Nick Curious Curios Day. And you. know, I was thinking about this. I was.

thinking about how sports have a. personality. The sport is the way it is. And for a long time, that's how the. sport sees itself. So tennis is a. perfect example, right? You have a sport. where initially it was very calm, very. rich English people wearing white. clothes and they would hit the ball to. each other and they would politely clap, "Bravo, Michael. Bravo. Bravo. Great. job." And in every sport, there's always somebody who comes along. who shakes things up. It's not just like.

who they are, but it's how they play. It's how the game sees them. It's how. they see the game. You know, I think of. it in golf. It was Tiger Woods, obviously. You know, I remember the the. fer do you remember how crazy people got. >> when Tiger Woods did the fist pump after. he won? Like people I remember that. being a scandal in golf. People were. like, "Is that is that for golf? Should. that be something that people do in. golf?" I don't know if he should be This. guy is They made it seem like Tiger.

Woods like did a drive by shooting on. the golf course. I know nothing about. golf and that is absolutely burned into. my brain that image of him and I know. nothing about that sport. >> and that's why he's so important to the. sport because Tiger Woods basically. brought I mean just let's put it this. way he brought a relative amount of swag. to the game of golf. He brought he's. super swaggy for golf. Let's put it that. way. >> And I think every sport has that person. They come in and everyone who's like.

traditionalist you know complains about. the person who comes in because of what. they do. But Nick Curios. is that player in tennis. >> If you hate tennis or if you think it's. boring, you love Nick Curios. And if you. love tennis, then you'll have an opinion on Nick. Curios because this kid came into the. game and I and I say kid purposefully. because when when Nick Curios started. playing tennis, he came in as a. teenager. No one expected anything from him. He. was playing in Australia. He didn't even.

play tennis from like the youngest age. Like people normally start when they're. like 2 years old. Nick didn't really do. that. He didn't really focus on the game. in the same way. He comes in, he's. playing against Rafael Nadal, one of the. greatest of all time, at one of the. biggest tournaments ever. He beats him. and everyone in the world is like, "Wait, who's this kid?" And then he just. proceeds to like play the game the way. nobody has ever played it. I mean, like. he like hits the ball behind his back. He hits it through his legs. He'll like. And then also he's he's got a lot of.

personality, you know? I I I I he. reminds me in many ways of John. Mackenroe but less rude. I know that. sounds like a crazy thing to say about. John McEnroe and I liked him for that. but like John Mackenroe had that like. your mother you goddamn you know what I. mean which I loved but Nick is just like. he's just he's an emotional player who's. changing the sport and one of the. biggest things he's changing in the. sport is the fact that he seems to not. care. He plays tennis and then he goes home.

He has almost no passion for it, which. really pisses people off. By the way, there's a lot of people who are like, "You should be grateful, young man, for. having and he's just like, nope, it's my. job." And that's it. All you have to do. is appreciate. a good villain. He's not a villain, but. like in the game of tennis, there are. heroes or people that are like held to. that standard. And then Nick comes in. and people can't deal with it. And I. live for it. Live for it.

>> He's amazing. He's amazing. Can I tell. you? Can I tell you what what makes Nick. so amazing in my opinion is that like. any great villain that is written into a. story, you actually come to find that they're. not the quote unquote bad guy. >> Mhm. Like I I often think whenever I'm. watching a movie or I'm reading a really. well-written story, there's a moment in. the story where you go, "Oh, wait. Is. this the villain?" And I think in many.

ways, Nick Curios is painted as the. villain, but the more you get to know. him, his life, and the sport, you're. like, "Huh, maybe tennis is the. villain.". >> Yeah. >> It's kind of like how Disney recently. has been refraraming villains. like. Maleficent gets her own story and you. realize, hey, she had a reason to spurn. that little baby in the bassinet and. Nick has his reasons. >> for, >> you know, making people clutch their. pearls at the US Open.

>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I'm really really. fascinated to speak to him because um. one, he's a maverick in tennis. two, he's one of the most genuine people. you'll ever have a conversation with. And three, I think the sport needs him. if it hopes to survive what is going to. be one of its biggest transitions from. the legends like Roger Federer and you. know, uh, Nadal and, you know, Jookovic. and all all all of these all of these. legends as they slowly age out of the. game, there's only going to be one name.

that gets new people in to watch tennis. and it's going to be Nick Curios. So, I'm I'm really excited. I don't even. want to waste more of your time. Let's. jump into it. Nick Curios. [Applause]. [Music]. >> Nick Curios, what's going on, my dude? >> Nothing much. Just touched down back in. Australia and spending time with some uh. my fam. Haven't seen you in a little. bit. And yeah, just just. >> just chilling. >> You've been watching the um the the NBA. playoffs. Well, not the playoffs. It's.

weird the season tournament. You been. watching it? >> Loved it. Yeah, watched it. >> Thought it was a great idea. great idea. for the league. >> It's funny. I saw I saw like Kevin. Durant, he said um he hated the idea. when he first saw it come out. >> and then even after he lost he was like. this was the most exciting tournament. they've played in a long time. >> Yeah, that tends to be how it is. I mean. athletes we get pretty stuck in our. ways. So a bit of we don't like change. and then I guess you know when it when. it actually benefits the league that we. find out and it was it was a good idea I. think though. >> Who's your team in the NBA? Cuz I know. you've always you've been a huge fan for. a long time through and through.

>> I'm a big Yeah, big Boston guy. Like. watch every single game. Um, don't know. I just in 2005 picked up my first video. game and picked the Boston Celtics. Ever. since then, just been a religious fan. >> It's always interesting seeing how. people become a fan of a team, you know. Um, I I think I became a fan of many. individual players in football because. of like um, you know, European football. soccer because of video games like. playing FIFA. >> and then. >> what are you what are you playing right. now? You said you you video you game. >> Call of Duty. >> Yeah, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Pokemon,

everything. I'm just I'm obsessed. I'm. the biggest. >> How good are you? >> I'm very good. Yeah. >> Like very very good. >> Yeah. Like I'm a We call them sweaties. or sweats. >> Oh, wait. You're a sweat? >> I'm a [ __ ] sweat. Yeah. >> What's your What's your What's your load. out on Call of Duty? >> I need I'm trying to actually I'm. [ __ ] I'm just going to move this. I'm. going to show you my PC right now. >> Right. >> Look at my PC, bro. >> Oh, nice. Is that water cooled? What is. that? >> Yeah, it's like it's it's it's just very. over the top. And look, you can see. that's beautiful. Oh, I see.

>> You've got the GeForce in there. I like. that. >> Like I just. >> customized CPU. You've got the LED. >> You're a sweat, too, bro. What the hell? >> No. No. I'm not a sweat. I wish I was a. No, you are, bro. You are. You got that. anonymous anonymous name online that. you're like 12y old. >> Genuinely. >> I wish I was a sweat. I I started I only. started playing War Zone in the. pandemic. I've always been like a I've. always been like a FIFA player. That's. That's been my. >> fun though. No, War Zone's great. War. Zone's great. Great. >> Yeah. Yeah. But then once my once my KD.

went above 1.1, then it stopped being. fun cuz I got put in lobbies with. >> sweats. Sweaty. >> and then it's not fun anymore. >> Funny, bro. That's so good. >> Yeah. Then it's not funny any It's not. cool. Now I'm just like, "Oh, no. I I. want to be in like the the low. >> just the normal the standard like. >> 45 is a good game to be playing. That's. like a nice day, you know, a nice. adventure.". >> So funny. Were there a tennis person you. you were a fan of when you got into the.

sport? Cuz your story is interesting in. that like it seems like from everything. I hear about you, everything I've read. about you, it doesn't seem like Nick. Curios was that into sport until he got. into sport. Is this true or is this just. a myth? >> Yeah. Yeah. I was I didn't really like. sport that much um growing up. And then. I think my mom, you know, eventually saw. I was pretty I was pretty chubby and I. wasn't active that much as a kid. She. was kind of like, "All right, let's. let's start doing some stuff." She just. took me down to the local tennis center. and I fair to say I hated it. I didn't.

like tennis at all and then you know I. loved basketball, fell in love with. basketball. >> Yeah. >> And then played both. Um but I didn't. really have any role models either. growing up like in the sporting world. Like I didn't really watch that much. sport. Um I was like big into video. games. um actually took like my studies. really seriously and then yeah just had. no real role models and then I kind of. fell in love with basketball players and. as I was playing tennis and there were. two conflicting sports. >> and obviously I've been absolutely. shredded for you know my personality or.

the way I go about things in tennis. because it's a very you know. >> in the box type of sport and and yeah so. I didn't really have any role models but. >> yeah I guess that's been part of the. journey so it's been pretty cool though. Yeah, it's it's an it's it's an. interesting journey to go on because. like how does somebody get into a sport? How did they become good at the sport. and why that sport? Like I I I don't. think people understand how unlikely it. was for you to get into tennis, you. know? >> You you were what 13 14 when you got. into the into the sport? >> Uh I played at seven seven years old was.

my when I picked up when I picked up a. racket. Yeah. >> Oh wow. >> Yeah. So it's why tennis? Did your mom. did your mom ever say why tennis? Um, well, in Australia, tennis is like one. of our biggest sports. It's cricket and. tennis. Um, >> what about Aussie rules? There was no no. Aussie rules. >> Yeah, I know. I I can't really. No, I. can't buy into a sport that's not played. out of Australia. I I don't know. I. think it's a bit of a joke to be honest. Um, on the record, >> who was your Wait, wait, who was your. biggest player back then? I don't I'm. trying to think of Australian Pat Rafter.

like we had like a pretty rich culture. in it and and then like my local tennis. center is like literally 2 minutes away. So that was I guess it was easy for. them, but um I absolutely hated it. >> What did you hate about the sport? What. was the thing you hated about? >> I didn't like it. I just I just didn't. like I I just didn't feel I never feel. like I could express myself the way I. wanted to. And then I realized that I. could later on in my career and really. like [ __ ] stir people, >> right? >> Yeah. Just look, I mean, look, I didn't. really grow up with like, you know, in a. in a rich family or anything. I knew I.

was very soon to realize that it was a. way to kind of. >> um help my family and help my friends. and and provide for my people and and. and build a life far beyond my myself. So that's when I realized that, you. know, that was the kind of journey that. I had to kind of do cuz like to say I. would make it an NBA, I don't think I. would. So it was just an easier it was. like an easier route for me, I guess, to. to make it out. >> Did that did that add a lot of pressure. to it though? Like when you're playing a. sport that's not just a sport, it's. something that supports your family, can.

lift your family out of the place. they're in. And I mean that doesn't that. come with an extra amount of pressure. that the other kids don't have? >> Uh definitely. I think for sure. But I I. I guess the cool thing about my. childhood is I didn't know any. different. My mom and dad always made me. feel like I had enough and I had the I. had the best childhood. Like I didn't. know that I was, you know, didn't have a. lot. Um. >> so but I I got hit with a lot of. pressure and expectation early. As soon. as I was 17, 18, I kind of broke onto. the scene. That's when I mean, Australia. kind of put this.

I mean, like the weight on my shoulders. for an 18-year-old, I think, you know, to look back at it, I think I did pretty. well um with dealing with it, but it's. not normal for someone that young to. deal with the spotlight and the fame and. and and the pressure, especially with. social media and all this pressure that. comes with it. It's like. >> mental mental like people wonder why I. am the way I am. like it just the my. experiences of what I went through kind. of, you know, made me a bit like my. screws are a bit loose. I think. >> I you know I I always wonder that I I. remember talking to some friends about.

this about the age we grew up in and. then the age that people grow up in now. and I was like. >> do you ever think for do you ever take. for granted you know I remember when. like Justin Bieber was blowing up and. >> I mean Justin Bieber's obviously a lot. younger than me and you know and I I. would think to myself I go we're judging. this kid but if you took away his fame. he's he's a child you know I mean it was. literally like his news headlines about. a child and I say to my friends all the. time. I go, "Do you remember the amount. of [ __ ] that we would get up to at that.

age?". >> But there was no there's no journalism. There's no reporter coming after you. You're just a kid getting up to [ __ ]. It's between you, your parents, and. maybe the school, >> you know? But I I can't imagine what it. was like for you at that age. >> being seen as not just a professional. athlete, but as you say, like a like a. bastion of Australian sport. Like one. minute you're just Nick, >> and the next thing you know, >> you know, you're the face of tennis in. Australia. and and quickly in the world, by the way. >> Yeah. I mean, look, I was it was it was. hard cuz I actually was just a normal.

kid. Like, I was still at school. I had. my school friends. I would just be doing. normal kid things and then I would live. this alternate life of like. >> carrying the burden of Australian sport, trying to win a grand slam, playing. Federa, playing a D. And I'm just like I. don't really I didn't really take it. very serious. And that's I guess that's. what I kind of got smashed for was like, oh, you're doing this and you're lucky. to do this. And I never saw it as I was. lucky to do it. Like I worked every. single day to get to where I was. Like. so people like, "Oh, you're so extremely. blessed to be there." And which I am.

like I guess I'm I'm not saying like a. bit of luck was needed to get there as. well, but. >> it's not like I just picked my hand in a. in a hat and pulled out like oh like. professional tennis player like. >> that's why I just can't stand people. like oh your life must be like it's like. bro it was like a lot of hard yards to. get here. >> Um. >> but yeah it's just like it was crazy. I. I I I just like I didn't take myself. seriously enough. Like I saw my my name. on the list of like Federa and Nadal, like these gods of of sport and I just. saw my name there. I was just like what.

a joke. Like I was like this it's it's. all a joke. >> Did you were they were they your heroes. growing up or was it still all. basketball for you? It was just you you. were like in an office it sounds like to. me it's like you worked at at like an. accounting firm essentially. You know. what I mean? It was like a job. >> Yeah. I was just at school. I was just. chilling like and then I just like. started beating these players and then I. just I guess in a way it was good but. like it wasn't good because then I kind. of lost a bit of respect for like. >> cuz people idolize these people and I. was like yeah I beat them at 18 and 19.

I was like. >> well anyone can do it then like if I can. do it anyone can do it and then people. like oh you should be and then it was. like the rat race of things like oh you. should win our grand slams or you should. and I was like that was never my goal. It wasn't my intention to go out there. and be like Roger. It was like to show. people that someone like me from the. small town could go out there and. compete and beat some of these like. >> I mean gods in my opinion. I think it's. hilarious. I. >> I remember having a conversation with um. with Roger Federra about you and it was.

actually it was um Roger Federra and. Rafael Nadell. Bill Gates was hosting a. charity tennis tournament in Cape Town. in South Africa. >> and we're just chatting about the whole. game and your name came up and man I. wish you could see the eyes of the. players when they were talking about you. the the one thing that Roger kept on. saying which was almost frustrating to. him when he said it was he's like this. kid is effortless. He's like, "This guy. does." He was like, "What Nick does in. tennis.

when he's not trying is what all of us. work our asses off to try to do.". >> You like, do you do you get that from. the other athletes in the sport? Cuz I. mean, let's forget about the press and. everybody for a moment. Like, people. write out their asses all the time. Everybody thinks they know a sport from. the outside. Everyone has opinions. But. I always find if you want some of the. truest opinions, you go into the sport. You talk to the people who actually do. it every single day and they'll give you. a different understanding. >> like do did you get that feeling from. from from the other tennis pros that.

they felt like you came with something. special just in the way you the way you. struck the ball, the way you understood. the ball, the way you played the game. >> Uh yeah, definitely. I mean I got told a. lot from other athletes and Roger and. stuff like yeah like you know past. players were saying like oh he's the. most talented and then I guess I don't. know when I kind of lost I not not lost. interest but I just kind of just I. didn't take it that seriously. I never. really fully bought in I think to the.

process of like tennis being like really. really important. Like I still today sit. here and I don't think it's that. important. Like I know. >> it's not it's not it's not number one on. your list. No, it's just not. It's just. like it it's been a great vehicle for me. to meet you, for instance, to meet all. these beautiful people, all these. cultures, and live this life, but I. never really said like, oh, like I never. I'm not going to introduce myself as, "Oh, I'm Nick Curios tennis player. I've. done this, this, and this." Like, I just. never really thought it was that serious. where. >> and like you look at Roger and Novak and. Nadal, like I'm not saying they're doing.

it wrong, like they've bought into the. process and they become, you know, champions and whatever, but I just think. I'm just not that personality. Like I. love gaming. I love hanging out with my. friends. I love feeling normal. I love. going to get a coffee. Like I love And. then if I'm playing some pro tennis on. the side, that's great. But like it's. like I'm not willing to sacrifice these. other things that make me really really. happy. >> You know, it's funny. You You didn't. just play tennis in like one of the. whitest sports. You also grew up in one. of the whitest countries. Like I've been. to Australia a bunch doing shows. I. think Australia is one of the most fun. countries I've ever been to. >> Amazing. Yeah.

>> But damn, Australia doesn't know how to. talk about race or anything that is not. like stock standard white Australian. >> They're pretty racist down here. >> They are. You can you can just say it. like it's okay. You were just like like. working around me. >> I'm not going to be that guy. I'm not. going to be I'm not going to go out. there and just like No, no, no, >> no, no. Hey, man. It's not my country to. say that about. >> It is very I'll tell you I'll tell you. firsthand. I've dealt with it. >> It's fine. It's horri It's horrific down. here. >> Have you seen it change over the years? >> I think it's getting worse. Um I think.

it's getting worse everywhere to be. honest. Um. >> I don't know. The world The world. frustrates me. The world frustrates me. >> In what way? >> They're just everyone's just trying to. just split everyone up. Like humans. actually are capable of doing some good. things when they work together, but no. one wants to work together for some. reason. >> Everyone's just putting each other down. >> I agree with a lot of that. >> Yeah. Everyone's just trying to like. separate everyone. It's either this or. that. It's like why can't people have. different opinions and just respect.

that? And then I don't know. It's so. weird. I just try not to think about it. cuz it drives me insane. Do you think do. you think some of that came to you from. growing up in a mixed family? Because. for me, one of the main things I had to. do growing up, so my dad's Swiss, my mom. is para from South Africa. I grew up in. South Africa, but I I had to learn. different languages, different accents, different cultures, different So in my. household, there was no like right way. to do something. There were just. different ways to do the thing to get to. the right outcome. Does that does that. make sense? I always grew up in a world.

where I was like I was like um I mean I. think I'm right but maybe you're right. from your point of view. And. >> 100% I think growing up with. >> my household there was yeah I think. that's yeah most Aussies like really. Aussie families. They don't they're not. like super family orientated. They like. where like me like I speak to my parents. pretty much every day. They send me. videos when I'm traveling. Like I I have. to be around people who are really close. to their family and and and like I just. can't I don't know like some of my.

friends like I haven't spoken to my mom. in like 3 weeks. I'm like bro I actually. need my I need to be away from you. Like. that's not normal anyway. Like that's not normal. >> Your mom seems like a really interesting. woman. Like first of all I read and you. never know how much of this is true. I. read that she's like a princess. >> Yeah. She was part of the royal family. in Malaysia, but I don't know what. royalty it was cuz we were broke. Um I. would I would have loved for it to be. royal. I would have.

um. but yeah, she was part of a royal family. in Malaysia and she came to Australia. Um and yeah, how the the story of how my. mom met my dad was crazy cuz my dad came. by boat from Greece when he was six. So. like just a crazy all just a crazy. story. Like I don't know. They both came. from crazy backgrounds. >> Yeah, that is that's I don't think I. know many Malaysian Greek mixers. >> Odd. Like my dad just came by boat. My. mom basically I don't know how my mom. came. >> they she probably swam. I don't know.

what kind of form of transport she had. Yeah. Wild. So I don't know. >> Who Who's um who's more of their. culture? Your your your mom or your dad? Like is your is your dad more Greek than. your mom is Malaysian? >> Oh no. They're both super like super in. their roots. Like my dad's super Greek. Like meets every old Greek stereotype. you've ever. >> So what? Wait, so what does he call Does. he call you Nikos? Does he call you? No, they call me Nick, but yeah, Niko, but. like he will like Greeks never play. never old school Greeks never pay full.

price for anything. Like he'll b we'll. be like at a jewelry store or anything. He's like trying to bug my dad. We can't. do that here. Um my mom is like she's we. got a lot of relatives from Malaysia and. my dad's, you know, Greek roots. That's the cool thing about it. Like. people can be successful from like. anywhere and any any like from anywhere. literally. And it's it's it's cool. My. roots are my my roots are pretty. special. We're going to continue this. conversation right after this short. break.

[Music]. I I remember watching you at um at a at. a tennis tournament once and I was. watching you play. >> and I was chatting to a friend of mine. and he was like, "Why do you think Nick. doesn't like tennis?". And I remember there there was a there. was a really cool interview that I saw. once uh was a Tottenham Hotspur football. player right in England.

>> and he was I think he was left back or. right back at the time and his name his. name slips my mind but I will never. forget they were interviewing him about. the game and he said oh I I don't watch. he said I don't watch football. He said. I don't watch football. >> I don't care about football. I don't. have a favorite team. this is just what. I do for for a job. And and the the. people were almost offended. They were. like, "How can you say that? You play in. the Premier League. This is amazing.". And he said he said, "Hey, >> was your dad a fan of the company he.

worked for?" He's like, "Was your dad a. fan of the job? Was your mom a fan of. the place where she worked?". >> He's like, "That's it's my job. I get. some people have it as a passion, but. it's my job.". >> And and when we were watching you play, I said to my friend, just watching you. and your vibe, I said, "I feel like Nick. Curios is. a team player stuck in an individual. sport. >> That's what I feel sometimes when I. watch you. >> Yeah. I mean, I I grew up playing. basketball. I love I much prefer team. sports, team environments big time. I. love losing together and winning.

together and having that camaraderie and. being on the road and all that. I I much. prefer it more than. >> like and I people like, "Yeah, but what. about when you win?" I'm like, "Yeah, it. feels good, but I just like I prefer. to just be my I don't know. I just a big. team guy. I don't know what it is, but. that's just me. Like I can't. >> really see. You didn't see it when you. when you played in the doubles. I mean, it seemed like you had more fun playing. doubles than you've ever had playing. singles. >> Yeah. Yeah. Big time. I love playing.

doubles. Much bit less pressure, but at. the same time, I just feel like it's. more rewarding to do do it with someone. else. Um, yeah. I just love I love. doubles, man. Doubles is a lot of fun. >> Did you Did you grow up with with your. siblings? How many siblings do you have? Yeah, I got uh two older siblings. Um, yeah, we grew up together. Yeah. >> Right. I I sometimes wonder if it's. that, you know, I I talk to a lot of. athletes and. >> especially athletes in the in the. individual sports, the ones who grew up. as only children almost didn't mind. being in an individual sport because.

that was the only place they got to see. other kids. And then people who grew up. in homes where they had like like a. bustling family and siblings, they felt. lonely when they went out on the road. cuz tennis, I've heard, is one of the. loneliest sports. I I don't know if. you'd agree. It's Yeah, it definitely. is. Like I mean especially me being from. Australia um you know early in my career. I was traveling like 6 7 months of the. year. >> hotel to hotel week in week out not. seeing family and friends. It's it was. hard. Yeah, definitely. Especially at. that young like it's a it's a hard. transition. >> Um and no sport's like that. Like every.

sport kind of has a routine and you kind. of know where you're going where tennis. is like you might lose and then you got. to fly to the next place or you might. win have to hang around and you're. playing. You don't know what time you're. playing. You don't know how long a match. could go for. There's a lot of. variables. That's why I think Novak is. the best athlete in the world because. his ability to adapt is like like no. other. Like every bet like every one of. the other athletes in the world like has. no like they know when they're going to. start, they know when they're going to. finish, they know how many games they're. going to play. >> Where like Novak like.

>> he's got to go to Asia, different time. zone, different food, different diet, >> and then you go to Europe and then. different food again, different time. zone. Doesn't know when he's going to. play and then America and then. Australia. And it's like how does this. guy adapt to every single scenario put. in front of him and still come out the. best is is is incredible. >> Yeah. I I actually I actually never. thought about the fact that in tennis. you don't know how long a match is. >> Yeah. It could be one it could be an. hour and a half. It could it could be 5. hours. So it's like I've played matches. that have gone under an hour and then. I've played for an for for 2 hours. I.

mean and then I play for 5 hours nearly. and then it's like and then I might have. to travel across the world to play the. same thing again with a different diet. different. It's crazy. Tennis is is. nuts. So like that's why I think Novak. for me. People don't really know that. about tennis though. Like they don't and. the schedule like you don't know when. you're going to start playing. Like. you're just followed by it. So like a. match starts at 11:00 and then you're. just followed by. So it's like there's. no direct. know when you're going to start playing. >> Half the time like more than half the. time you don't even know when you're. going to start. So like you can't you.

don't know when to eat. You don't know. when to like you're going to when you're. going to finish. It's hard to plan. It's. insane. >> Yeah. This doesn't seem ideal. And it. seems even less ideal if it's not your. ultimate passion in life. >> Yeah, exactly. It's stressful. Yeah. When you're doing stuff that you you. know Yeah. I mean, it's it's definitely. caused a lot of stress in my life, but. again, I can understand that it's opened. up a lot of doors for me as well. >> Yeah. No, look, I think everything in. life has a has a blessing and a curse. attached to it, you know. Um, I remember. there was a time in standup comedy when.

as comedians, we would talk a lot about. this backstage. Comedy, I'll say before. social media and and in many moments, comedy was a really lonely and it can be. a very lonely um you know profession in. that we're on the road when you start. off you're by yourself. You know, you. just you've got a bag, you fly to some. random place somewhere in the world, you. do comedy there for a week and then you. fly somewhere else. It's it's similar to. tennis just, you know, not the crowds. aren't the same. And there was a period. where a lot of comedians were committing. suicide and we'd always we'd always hear.

these stories. You'd be like, "Yo, did. you hear about Mike? What happened?" Be. like, "Yeah, Mike. Mike Mike committed. suicide in a hotel in some random place. in the world." And it was always like. the same sad story on the road by. themselves. And then, you know, that was it. That. was the last time we'd hear of of of. that comedian. And we would talk about. this and we say, "It's such a solitary. experience. It's such a solitary. existence." And at some point, you go, "What am I even doing this for?" you. know, and and and and when I've see.

you've been very public about like the. mental aspect of the game and which I've. appreciated by the way, you know, yourself, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, it's like the first generation of. superstar athletes who aren't afraid to. say, "Hey, I put myself before the. sport.". >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's important. because. I was close to, you know, I was in a. very dark time and I was close to, you. know, I was feeling the exact same way. I was like, "What am I doing this for?". Like I hate like cuz I was two. completely different people. I was like.

Nick Curios and then I had to turn into. someone else. >> and that was the only thing that people. cared about was that was that Nick that. I had to turn into, >> you know, and and that entertainer and. then when I was normal no one gave a. [ __ ] So I was like. >> this is tough. Like I was like I I'm. tired and I'm doing it week in week out. and I was alone on the road and I was. like I you know drinking, drugs, partying and then being out till like. 5:00 a.m. then playing the next day and. it was just like. >> it was a big dark depression that I was. in and no one like just because I was. winning tennis matches it seemed to just. be okay. Everyone was like, "Okay, he's.

fine then." And I was like. >> that's the that's that's that's what's. dangerous is that people just will get. up and continually go because they have. to go, but they're really not okay. And. then Naomi was the first kind of person. that I was seeing taking time away from. the sport. Like she stepped in the. French Open. Everyone was like, "Oh, how. could you? Like it's a privilege to be. there." I'm like, "Bro, she earned her. right to be in the French Open. If she. doesn't want to play for mental health, that's up to her.". >> And then I was I saw that and that. opened my eyes. I was like, "Holy [ __ ]. someone's actually doing it.".

>> Wow. >> And then cuz I was going through that. for ages before she before she did it. And then I told her, I was like, "You. helped me because I don't maybe if I. kept going, like I wouldn't be here. right now cuz that's how bad it was.". And then I've just now completely. shortened my schedule. I only play when. I want to play. I only do what I want to. do. And I was like, and then I end up. doing things with more purpose anyway. Like this interview, like there was a. time where I used to do this type this. type of stuff and hate what I was doing. and hate I I never even enjoyed doing. things like this, but now I'm doing. everything with a purpose and it ends up.

actually being more rewarding. So it's. like athletes doing that and it's when I. reach out when I put on social media the. best thing about it is people still. reach out to me today when they're just. like oh can I you know have some advice. and I get people's numbers and I talk to. them on the phone and I WhatsApp. I. don't even know these people but. >> wow. >> I just help them and it's like that's. the coolest thing about it like just. opening up. I mean I'm helping so many. people. >> Did you did you have anyone that you. leaned on either inside or outside of. the sport when you were going through. it? Because you're this young kid who. blows up. The world is on your.

shoulders. you are considered a. professional. I mean before you know. you're even an adult really like did you. have anyone you leaned on? Was was there. anyone who really helped you through. these tough times? >> It was such a shock to the system I. think for my family and my friends cuz. >> no one had ever done something like I'd. done. Like it was just it was just not. >> heard of that anyone around where I'm. from like blew up globally and. >> did something. And it was just hard. No, I didn't I didn't have anyone. They had.

no idea what I was going through. They. had, you know, they was just like, "Oh, you're making good money, so that's it.". It's just like there was so much. >> more stuff that came with it than that. that really affected me because I was. such a normal person. Like I wasn't like. I hate the fame. I hate all that. Like I. hate I think it's a joke. >> Um, >> and I hated it. And then I had no one to. kind of lean on. And then I I I had some. people like even Andy Murray in the. locker room was like, "Bro, are you. okay?" Like I had some other people like. kind of seeing like what I was going. through. And then I I see help and I. just got myself out of it to be honest.

But. >> I didn't really And that was hard. That. was really hard. I didn't feel every. time I tried to confide in someone that. I knew they had no idea what I was going. through. So it was really hard. >> When you were working with um Naomi. Osaka. >> Yeah. >> You know, I saw a few clips of you guys. going viral. You know, you and her. talking about some aspects of the game. >> She's somebody who I feel like has a. natural connection with you for multiple. reasons. You know, you're you're both. you're both these professionals who came. from worlds where you were mixed, where.

you almost always didn't fit in, but. then found a place that you did fit in, but it wasn't necessarily your number. one passion, but you're both amazingly. good at it. When when the two of you are. together, like what do you what do you. find Naomi brings out in you that you. you know that maybe you haven't found. when you when you connected with other. players early on in your career? >> Yeah, just that she's really struggled. to fit in. I think the sport like I I. find comfort when I when I she was she. was on my show as well. >> and we had a really good chat and it's. just like she had a lot of questions for.

me in that sense. She's like, "How do. you deal with it?" Cuz you know, you've. had a lot of backlash. And I think we. both just find that common ground in. like we're being we're so different in. when we came into the sport. We were. like the black sheep in like and we just. really trying to find our way and we had. a sea of fans, but then we had a pe sea. of people that didn't like the way we. went about things. And it was like she. was like really. >> like we both don't give enough credit to. ourselves. I think like she's won four. grand slams. She's been beaten to. everyone. And I'm like you do realize. you've you've achieved a lot. He's like,

"Uh, like I've achieved a little bit.". And I'm like, >> we both really struggle to give. ourselves credit. >> And. >> I think we just we we kind of find. comfort in each other because it's like. we we're almost Yeah. We're like I feel. like if I had a comparison. >> in the on the women's tour, it would be. her. You know, I haven't achieved. anything of what she's achieved. You. know, she's achieved three times as. much, but it's like. >> I just I can see the way she she really. look she looks uneasy at the courts. Like I see her walking around. I'm like. she's just not in her environment. She. always walking with headphones on trying. to disassociate and I'm just like that's.

me. But like she's just really really. internal. Her coping mechanism is to go. in her shell where mine is actually to. just be be like be crazy where it's like. that's that's the only difference. But. yeah, she's I've learned a lot from her. as well, which is good. Sometimes I I. think to myself, you know, when I when I. watch athletes break into a a sport, one of the things that that that plays. through my head is the understanding of. the sports culture versus that athletes.

culture. You know, >> in in England, for instance, a lot of. people don't know that like footballers. are considered like from the working. class and lower class. It's not like a. prestigious sport in in in the country. you know, uh, rugby is up there, cricket's up there. That's considered, okay, you are that's the sport that the. the prince would play, for instance, and. and and you you see it change around the. world. Tennis, from the time I was in. school in South Africa, tennis was the. sport that like the richer kids could. play. Like I remember seeing the price.

of a Wilson racket. Like when I played. tennis, I had one of those the wooden, you know what I mean? Our school gave us. those wooden ones with the long handle. >> That's all I could play with. And then. like these kids would come to school and. they'd have like their Wilsons and they. would have like all the kits and. everything you you there was no dream of. affording that. So we couldn't continue. playing tennis. >> But because of who's in the sport, there's also a cultural aspect that the. sport dictates. And if you don't follow. that culture, you're seen as being, you. know, a a bad boy, a rowdy person, a.

like half of the things people criticize. you for, I sometimes go, you realize if. Nick was playing another sport, this. would just be an athlete. That's what. people would say. Yeah. You know what I. mean? I mean, I've had I've had. conversations like if I played NFL, NBA, like I'd be the I'd probably be the like. the cleanest and nicest guy in the. locker room. >> Yeah. They'd be like, "Quiet, Nick.". That's what they say. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exact. Because that's how I. am. I'm actually very internal and and. I'm an introvert when I'm off the court. Like I don't like. >> like doing too much. Um and saying too. much. So it's like Yeah. That I mean. what you nailed it on the head like the.

things I'm doing like throwing a racket. or like like a snippet of throwing a. racket. So, but the the thing about it. is like I play for four hours and they. choose to show a clip that goes for like. 5 seconds and then broadcast it over the. biggest media platforms in the world. And then obviously that's how you're. going to brainwash the majority of. people that haven't watched the 4hour. match but they've watched the five. little second clip. Oh, how could you do. this every day? It's like what the are. you talking about? Like. >> and that becomes a narrative and that. just grows legs and then it's like oh he. does it. It's like bro you guys don't. know who I am at all and it's like yeah.

tennis is a white privilege sport. That's how it was when I I was like the. first I guess there was a c couple in. the sport before me, but there wasn't. many. And now there's so many. There's. Tafo, Osaka, Shelton, Curio, like. >> it's amazing. And it's like I feel I. don't feel as alone and as alienated. anymore as I did when I came up because. I was like I walked in the locker room. I was like, "Bro, there is no one here. that I [ __ ] with at all." I was like, >> "What is this place?" It was it was. cold. Every no one talked with each. other. It was no there was no like. friendships. I was like, "This is. brutal." And then now it's like I walk.

in there and you see people on the court. like they they've got passion, they got. personality, their culture, they're. bringing different sides of the sport. And now we embrace it and I'm like, dude, when I came through I was like, you guys painted me as if I was like a. murderer. Like that's how bad it was. Like there were some articles that I was. like, all I'm doing is just being me and. bringing my personality to sport. And. I'm absolutely. >> and that's it's kind of given me a sour. taste of tennis to be honest. Like I I. don't think about tennis in a in a good. way. I I think it's a a very shallow and.

they haven't embraced personalities and. and it's dangerous because some people. like me like it was hurtful and I did. struggle with it. So. >> and I know in other sports like NBA or. you know rugby or soccer like there's so. many different personalities and. everyone's kind of it's like that's how. it should be like it's just like we're. so pass like just tennis is I I hate it. like honestly. you you know I I understand why you hate. it but in a selfish way as a fan of the.

sport I am grateful for you. I I hate. that you went through those experiences, but in a selfish way, I'm grateful for. you because I don't think tennis realize. how much it needs Nick Curios. I don't. think tennis realize how much it needs. to be unpredictable, how much it needs. to be personal, how much it needs to be. like you, you know, when you look at the. you know the the the tennis stadiums. themselves, you go from country to. country. I' I've only watched I've only.

watched a grand slam in New York and. I've watched one in um Paris. So Roland. Garos and uh I'm trying to think if I've. done one more maybe. I'm not sure. But. >> all of the stadiums have different. personalities and the commentators in. the tennis world celebrate that. They. go, "Oh, Roland Garage is is this is the. attitude and oh Wimbledon is very posh. and New York is very like lively and. fun.". >> And then as soon as you get a different. one on court, it's like, "Oh, why are. you acting like that?" It's like, >> I never understood why they didn't. celebrate that as a as a concept. I look. at how John Mackenroe bought people into.

the sport because of how crazy he was. >> Yep. Yeah, he was nuts. And then yeah, he got. I mean I feel like I mean then then he. retired and now he's an absolute legend. It's like oh should have embraced him. while he was here type thing. But I feel. like that's for me. I feel like now I'm. getting more embraced when I'm getting. to like the later stages of my career. and it's like. >> would have helped if I got embraced. earlier on cuz I probably wouldn't have. obviously had those dark periods in time. and I probably would have been in better. physical condition. I probably would. have adored the sport more and tried a.

little bit harder to get the best out of. myself. But now, I mean, like I look. back at it, it just caused so much dark. and negative and stress and on me, my. family, like just Yeah. It just wasn't a. nice. >> I don't look back at it as a nice period. of my life. And I think people always. ask me like, "Oh, how long do you want. to play for?" I was like, "I'll probably. play for another year or two." And. they're like, "Oh, why not?" I'm just. like, because. >> I don't look back at it and smile. I. look back at it and I'm like, it it it. makes me almost sad and and upset at my. career. And that's just something that.

it is what it is. like I can't change. it, but it's it's not what you want to. hear from an athlete that's dedicated. his whole life towards. >> Do you uh do you ever think of you I. know this is going to sound crazy. You. should you should do like a party year. before you leave. >> A what? >> Just have like a party year. Like a. party like bring all your friends. >> Just like make it make it as much of a. party as you can before like don't. leave. >> All my friends can't travel like all the. time. They got. >> Man, you know what? Let me tell you. something. Once you announce it as like. the retirement year, >> people will be part of it, you reckon?

>> Yeah. They got to they got to make make. it a thing. Find a sponsor. Get your the. sponsor to pay for like their salary for. like a year. Make it like a reality. show. >> That'd be sick. >> Go out there like go out with a bang. Like I I feel like why let the sport. leave you. You know what I mean? You. leave the sport the way you want to. leave it. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. Yeah. That's a good That's. actually a pretty mental idea. >> Can I Can I tell you the most fun I ever. had like some of Yeah. Some of the most. some of the most depressing quiet. moments in my life have been and not. good quiet have been on the road doing. comedy like like a slog. Exactly what.

you're saying. I'll be in some random. rainy town in England. This was years. ago in my career. It's just me in like a. hotel room that's underground cuz you. know some hotels they they have that. somehow. I don't know. The first floor. is like under the you know the surface. of the street. >> I don't know how that works. >> You know what I and and dude and I would. be so just like depressed and tired and. and all of it. And the one thing I do. now for myself is I go I will make my. environment the biggest community. possible. So if you see me on tour in.

India, if you see me anywhere, I'm like. yo man, I roll with my people. I go the. tour is almost secondary to me living my. life with my people. And it it's changed. everything. It's even the worst tour. becomes the best tour. >> I think that's what I did last year. Like that was the best year of my life. And I kind of looked at it in a. different light. I was like, "Okay, I'm. going to look at it as like I'm going on. a holiday with my partner and my team. and then I'll play a bit of Tesla." And. then I had the best year of my life. >> So maybe you're right. Maybe you're on. to something there. >> Yeah, man. I don't know. I cuz I cuz I. Here's the thing, and you'll tell me if. I'm wrong. It feels like.

you think of retiring. as a as a moving um you know, as as it. doesn't feel like a constant measure. You know, when when when when other. athletes speak of retiring. So when. Roger would speak about retiring, I. remember him he would always talk about. his body and it was the end. I could I. could I could see Roger talking about. that. They would have a timeline and I. think co robbed robbed him of a few. years that we could have celebrated with. him. >> Yeah. >> But like when I look at you, I can see. there's a lot of it that's like it's not. Nick's body. It feels like it's Nick's.

mind and Nick's heart that wants to take. a break and and get out of it, you know? >> Yeah, that's exactly how I feel. Like my. body now is obviously, you know, I've. had a couple surgeries by 28 and like I. never really wanted to. >> get to a point in my career where I I. did that cuz I want to have a family one. day and be active and and and play with. them and run around, >> right? >> But yeah, it's more so I'm just a bit. like Yeah, I guess just. >> I don't know. There's a bit bit of. tennis that that stings every time I. think about it and that's not it's like. I don't Yeah, I mean look, I'll come. back and when I'm when I'm healthy and.

I'll I'll play and I'll entertain for. another year or two, but after that I. think that's it. Let's go back to um you know when you. were saying you you were painted at this. as this bad boy. I would love to know. how do you feel about the title bad boy? Do you like it? Because from the outside. sometimes people No, you don't. >> No, I don't like it because it's like a. reputation that I've had to kind of like. >> fight against my entire life. Just like. every time I meet a not like a person or. >> go out in public or you know for. instance my partner when I when I met.

her she thought I was arrogant. She. thought I was maniacal. She thought I. was like volatile. She thought I was. like, yeah, just like a bad person. And. I was like, I've just been fighting. against this reputation my entire life. And I'm actually the exact opposite. Like I don't take myself seriously at. all. I'm literally the calst person. you've ever met. >> I'm very low maintenance. Like I'm. selfless. I'm not selfish at all like. every tennis player is. Like I'm like. >> And it's it's been hard. Like people. don't even hear me out. And it's just. like it's I hate it because it's like.

it's it's it's it's it's been tough. definitely. But unfortunately that's. really the only nick that they care. about. So it's like it's hard. You. >> I I don't know if you still do this but. I I remember hearing once that you. coached yourself. Is it was that true? >> Yeah. I haven't had a coach for like. six, seven years now. Well, was was was. part of that because you didn't want to. be coached out of being yourself or was. it just because you don't work well with. a coach? >> I guess I just think that my way is the.

best and no one knows me as well as I. do. Like I I'll hold myself accountable. when I do something stupid. >> No one knows my game the way I know my. game. I know what I need to improve on. >> Um I know what my strengths are, but. also it's just a waste of money in my. opinion. And like these these coaches. are like charging like 150 to 200 grand. a year. I'm like for what? Like you. stand there and like like I do my own. study like I can just go to YouTube. right now and and look at every single. per every single player's strengths and. weak and just study their game, watch.

hours of film and and do all that side. of things tactically. Um I know what my. my technique is absolutely fine. I can. like I'm not going to pay someone 200. grand to just travel the world and just. stand on call with me and just like oh. you do this. Okay, that's 200 grand. worth of can advice. Like amazing. Hell. no. >> Like what the that's ridiculous. >> You see this? But this is even crazier. to me. The fact that you win anything is. even is even wilder to me now cuz I'm. just like you you you're an anomaly. You're a you're a.

>> people talk about a natural talent, but. you are truly an anomaly. You You can't. play at the highest level of any sport. without a co a coach and do what you do. >> You can you can you can you can you can. it's it's really it's simple. Like the. biggest lie we've all been told, it's. not that simple. It really is. It's It's. very simple. >> Feel like this is Superman lifting a bus. being like, "It's not that hard. It's. really not that hard. You just You just. got to lift with your knees. You just. got to live with your legs.". >> Yeah, maybe. I don't know. >> When when when Nick Curios looks at his.

life apart from the game, I know. Um, are you still dealing with an injury. now? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. Do when you when you get these. injuries, do you actually know when. you're coming back or is it all just. speculation? Um, it just depends what kind of injury. it is. Obvious obviously, like if it's a. rolled ankle, you know, but I've, you. know, I've had some surgeries and I'm. just trying to get back. There was a, you know, there I had a bit of a wrist. thing and it was kind of bothering my. everyday life. Like I couldn't go to the. bathroom. I couldn't put salt on my. steak. Like it was getting to a point. where I was like, "Okay, it was.

affecting my everyday life." And it. wasn't even about tennis. People like, "Oh, how were you on the court?" I was. like, "Dude, it didn't even it wasn't. even on the court." Like, I was like. struggling to be without pain in my day. Start to get it done. >> Damn. And now I don't really have like a. timeline, you know? I'm just going to. come back. I feel like I've got so much. stuff that I can focus on in the. meantime that it's just like I'm going. to do this right, take my time, come. back whenever I want. I got a protected. ranking of 21 so I can come back and. play whatever I want to play. >> and that's it. Like I'm going to enjoy. my life in the meantime. I can enjoy it, do my rehab and.

>> and that's it. Like I wouldn't be having. this conversation with you probably if I. was healthy at the moment. I'd be. probably back out there doing your. thing. >> Yeah. But I'd be in a bad mood. I would. be training and I'd be miserable and. then I'd be like, "No, I'm not doing. this call." Like, and now, do you know. what I mean? So, it's like there's. positives to everything. >> Yeah. I I I I really wonder how long. it's going to take for us to get to the. place where we acknowledge that athletes. are human beings and we don't own them. in their entirety outside of the sport. cuz we're watching you perform the. sport, you know, like that. That is the. action. And there's this pervasive idea.

that athletes are owned off the court or. or off the field like Yeah. We want you. We want you doing. We want you. We want. you. We want you. We want you. We want. you. And then as soon as you express. emotion about being wanted, people are. angry at you. They're like, "Oh, what do. you mean he's tired? What do you mean. he's not having a good day?". >> Yeah. It's wild. Yeah. It's it's it's. crazy, man. Like, it's Yeah, you said. it. >> Let's talk about a bit of like just some. like your personal life like as as Nick. You've. >> you've been really open and and really. vulnerable, which for me flies in the.

face of this idea of you being an. [ __ ] You know, you. To me, it seems like you are somebody. who occasionally loses their temper or. shows their emotion while playing a. sport, which by the way, again, is. normal in most sports, but when you when. you're forced to wear white shorts. Yeah, it isn't. >> Like, we're not we're human, so aren't. we supposed to feel? Do you know what I. mean? >> Yeah. I I hope that will change in. tennis, man. I really hope it will. because I think I think if the sport's.

not careful, it will start to become a. vestage of itself. It'll just become. like this, you know, remember when like. the Williams. >> Yeah. But as soon as Nadal and Jovoic. goes anyway, the sport's going to. struggle. >> They'll lose so many fans. I think look, obviously with S and Outc coming up, but. the way they've marketed the sport, there's not going to be as much interest. anymore. >> Yeah. You see, and that's what I mean. They can't afford to lose people like. you. That's exactly what I'm saying. >> Yeah. Well, too bad. I've got plans.

I'm not. >> What are your plans? What if you could. wave a magic wand? What is next? >> I actually don't have plans. That's. That's a lie. I don't I don't I'm not a. planner. I I just I just go day by day. I look back at I just go back. I don't. even know what I'm doing tomorrow. I. don't even know what I'm doing this. afternoon. Honestly, I don't have I'm. not a planner at all. >> But what would you want to do. >> if you could do anything? >> I honestly don't even want to think. about it. Like I find happiness the. easiest of things. Like I just. >> so excited to just get up and be at home. like get a coffee, spend time with my. mom. Like those things are just like the.

best things. I just want to do that for. for as long as I can. >> I think I think you know with all the. downsides as as we talk about of of the. sport of tennis, I wonder if you have. felt because I I could just be. projecting this incorrectly, but. obviously there are downsides to social. media. Did you start to find a level of. connection with people because of social. media? Like did you start to realize. that Nick Curios was touching hearts and. minds all over the world in a way that. you weren't aware of when you started. playing? >> Definitely. And I think that's that's.

what I'm doing now. Like I've actually. funny you said it. Like I'm starting my. show called Good Trouble. I sit down. one-on-one with some really interesting. people. Like I've done Mike Tyson, Gordon Ramsay, Gary Vee, J Shetty, and. you know, they're all getting edited. now, but I I was filming that when I was. in LA and it's like we sit down. intimately and I didn't realize that I. would be able to interview these people. first of all, >> right? social media was the biggest link. of that. >> And then obviously tennis, if I wasn't. good at tennis, I wouldn't even had the,

you know, the the platform to do it. But. like I've sat down with these people, these amazing entrepreneurs, athletes, chefs, like and I'm like, >> yeah, >> they all seem to have like the same sort. of. >> they're like they do things with. purpose. They've come from a super like. super hard background. >> They've like they're never satisfied. like ever. They're always like, I. achieved something, I got to do I do. more. And I'm like when I speak to these. people I'm like I sit there and I'm like. I did Rain Wilson by the way and he we. chatted about like the comedy scene and. people you know there was a lot of.

suicides. So when you were saying that I. was like we was I was pretty fresh in my. mind but. >> like I was just like. >> how the hell is Nick Curio sitting down. here interviewing these people. >> and I'm like. >> my life with the social media and stuff. like I'm I'm like I I hated it but then. I'm like dude there's so many cool. things that come from it. Like even this. for instance like it's it's it's it's. pretty powerful stuff but I think you. got to use it in the right way. definitely because there's a lot of junk. on it as well. >> It's interesting you've said it twice. and it says something to who you are but.

like the fact that you say how is Nick. Curios in this situation? How is Nick. Curios speaking to that? Do you ever. acknowledge the fact that like people. are thinking that about you? >> No. >> You know yeah it's funny that you don't. ever think that about yourself at all at. all. at all. >> No. No. I just think it's weird that. people want to talk to me. It's very. weird. >> Don't go anywhere cuz we got more what. now after this.

[Music]. Um, when you're playing, this is. something I've always wanted to know. just as as a selfish, you know, for for. me completely selfishly. How much does it affect you when like. the fans or the people in the crowd are. like talking or not talking? Like do you. really. >> so it look it's the timing of it like. >> if you want to come to a tennis game. >> and cheer and be loud like New York is. >> so loud in Arthr Arena it's so loud but.

>> like for instance at Wimbledon or like. at Oz Open or and then when or or. moments where you have to be quiet like. >> it's like between first or second serves. or like in the middle of the point like. you can't people I think they just don't. realize that like a little especially in. tennis like one point can change the. whole momentum of the match. Like the. scoring system isn't like. >> like a basketball game or a soccer like. soccer is not a bad not a good example. but a soccer um like a soccer game like. you have to I think people just you know.

they might be drinking too much or. whatever but they kind of don't. understand that. >> there's a little bit of etiquette in. tennis where it's like you have to just. be quiet at certain moments not all the. time certain moments and I think people. just struggle with that sometimes you. know. >> cuz it can swing the entire game. whenever you're doing um those trick. shots. >> which you know I think you you've become. even more famous for thanks to social. media you know Tik Tok and you name it. >> like in in those moments I mean I don't. need to tell you this but I will anyway. as a fan of the sport I live I genuinely.

live for that moment Nick I I don't. think you I don't care whether it works. or not I live for that moment. >> because it feels unscripted it feels. original. >> like when you when you when you're. hitting those crazy trick shots cuts to. a fellow pro and you see them smiling. and everything like is that is that a. moment where Nick's having fun on the. court? >> Yeah. It's just like that that's like a. like that's like a part that I look back. on and I'm like those those were cool. moments cuz it's just like my. personality coming through and I think. when I see the youth kind of you know.

going and doing that in their like small. tennis center and they're trying to. aspire to be like me that that's that's. a real cool part about it. Like that's a. bit of my personality where it's like, you know, show yourself. Show yourself. what you want, what you like, >> how you want to play in those moments. It's pretty cool. >> Would you ever go into coaching? >> I would. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, she's asked. for a couple tips and couple things and. I've helped her and a lot of players do. I think I've got I'm a student of the. game where like I'm really smart. tactically and I feel like I can help a. lot of players. Yeah. Probably maybe. >> What would you do differently as a coach.

to what all the quote unquote, let's. just call them, you know, mainstream. coaches are doing? What What do you. think? What do you think coaches miss? >> I think most coaches miss like actually. caring for the athlete and their. wellbeing first. I think they they care. about the tennis first most of them and. they don't really care about okay how's. my how's my players life actually going? How like I would have to spend time with. my student I guess I'd have to know what. their tendencies are, how what they like. to do, how they how their personality is.

off the court, >> you know, I need to know how they like. just I need to get to know them and care. about them first. Have that connection. make sure that's solid before I actually. >> because how are they going to listen to. me first of all if I don't care about. them as like and I gain that respect. they're not going to listen to me on the. court and I feel like that was something. that I struggled with like I I knew. early in my career people didn't really. care about my wellbeing like I was. paying them and. >> they'd never hung out and they never. really got to know me and I was like. okay so now they're showing up on the. tennis court I'm like I can't I can't do. that I can't do those relationships so.

>> I guess I would just be there like I'd. be early mornings with them late nights. >> um you know go through the ups and downs. and get to know them as a person and and. yeah that would be the difference I. think. >> I remember um. players at Inter Milan talking about. Jose Mourinho. >> y. >> and and a lot of the players were saying. one of the reasons they regard him as. one of the greatest coaches of all time. >> is not because of what he does on the. field it's what he does off the field. they said he involves himself in every.

aspect of your life like a real human. being he's like how is your wife how's. your family how are the kids what's. going on. >> Sometimes he would even let a player not. play the game because he's like, "Hey, I. get back home. You're struggling with a. lot." And I I I I often think about that. with sport, you know, like. >> are we doing a good job treating. athletes like the human beings that they. are, especially thinking about like the. mental aspects of the game. Like I don't. know if you've ever read um Zlatan. Ibrahimovic's book, but in in the book. he talks about, it's a really really.

fantastic book. I'd recommend it if you. haven't. He he talks about how before. one of the biggest matches of his. career, he was dealing with the fact. that him and his wife had lost like a. child like you know like and it was it. was this you know it was it was a. painful painful story of him talking. about his wife was pregnant and then. >> and he has to go and play in a final and. and that's it and all the fans care. about is did you score, did you not. score? You're dealing with this private. thing that nobody knows about, >> you know, no one no one gets to talk. about it. I'd love to know like did you.

ever did you ever get therapy? Did. anyone ever recommend it? Was it. something that you were exposed to? >> Seen a lot of psych psychologists and. >> I went to this like kind of this. psychological kind of rehab place in. London. Um, you know, I was playing 2019. Wimblewood and I went there and I got, >> you know, I went there, I see a bit of. help and it was kind of like a scary. time cuz I had to play Nadal the next. day and they were like, "You should stay. here for like a week or two." And I was. like, "I can't really do that cuz I got.

to play Nadal the next day." And that. was when I it was a big wakeup call for. me. I was like, "Shit, I need to kind of. drive myself out of this period because. >> damn, >> no matter what I do, people are really. not going to care about things I've got. off, you know, off the court.". >> Yeah. >> Yeah. like my my my my grandmother, she. passed away um this year and and she was. like she was quite old. She lived a. great life. Um she was like 94 I think. or 95. And that day, you know, I was. training and and she'd passed away and I. was in Sydney and she was in CRA and my. family were facetiming me and I was.

facetiming her. I was on the camera to. her watching her kind of, you know, go. through that phase of just and then it's. like. >> then I'm at a tennis center training and. people coming up to photos and like that. was like that's the kind of thing that. people just don't get. Like it was my it. was my girlfriend's birthday as well. So. it's my girlfriend's birthday. >> like um my grandmother passed away and I. was had I was training and people just. come on photos and it's like that sort. of stuff takes so much of a toll on. someone. It's like. >> sorry that I might be miserable the next. day. Do you know what I mean? Like it's. like. >> but people don't get that. They're like.

oh how arrogant of you not take a photo. I'm like dude. >> like I just like 5 minutes ago my. grandma just passed. Do you know what I. mean? Like they don't they don't care. about that. >> Yeah. No. I know ex I know exactly what. you mean. I know. My grand passed away. last year. >> Same same thing. It's the same like and. you don't you don't want to nor should. you have to deal with it with strangers. Like you don't want to tell everyone, "Oh, my grandmother just died. My. grandmother just died.". >> Exactly. But then if you don't take a. photo, it's like, "Oh, why are you so. rude?" I'm like, "Dude, all right. Do. you want to know?" And then they like, it's it's crazy, man.

>> Yeah. It's that line. They they only. miss you when you're gone. It's it's. it's it's that feeling. >> Of course. One one one aspect I. definitely want to touch on before. before I let you go is is your. relationship. You you've been really open and and it. seems like you give a lot of credit to. to your partner for how she like how. she's helped you in your life. You've. talked about her getting you out of the. darkest moments, how she sees you when. other people don't. I remember watching. her at Arthur Ash if I'm not mistaken.

It was like and like seeing how she sort. of felt for you in some of the moments. on the game. sometimes in the game. sometimes it even felt like you were. just playing in front of her. It wasn't. even about the rest of us. >> What what's what's that relationship. meant to you and and um and how easy is. it to be in a relationship when you're. in the position that you're in? >> Oh, I mean, first of all, being in a. relationship in my like out I guess in. in anyone that's kind of in the. limelight, it's not easy at all. Like. it's it's really hard. You know, there's.

a lot of eyes on your relationship. There's a lot of people that have their. opinions and on social media they're. commenting this or that like. >> a lot of garbage that gets kind of. >> fueled into it and then like obviously. you know following and liking and all. this and you know I think the best thing. about my relationship is that we have. really nice really really good. boundaries and we both respect it and. >> we we know that trust is really the only. currency you have in a relationship and. once you break it I think it's it's. really hard to especially in the. limelight once it's a little bit broken. it's it's really too hard to fix but.

>> she's just present I think that's one. thing that I say about my girlfriend. now. She's just present and she knows. the whirlwind of my life. Like when I. travel and when I'm in a spotlight and. when I'm dealing with negativity or. positivity and I'm winning and I'm. stressed, like she's just there. Like I. just like I play on the biggest stadiums. in the world and I get back to the. little hallway and she's just waiting. there and she's like, "Yeah, you did. really well." And it's like she just. sits there and she's just like, "I'm. proud of you." And you we go home and. we'll make food together. It's just like. I love just the simplest of things. like. I don't need anything. It's like.

>> just be present for me because like in. the whirlwind of my life and the [ __ ]. storm, I just want to come home to a. nice calm environment where we can talk. and just relax and I don't want to talk. about tennis. Just like. >> what are you doing today or what are we. doing? I just love that and I think that. that's. >> just who are you as a human being? >> [ __ ] I know it's not easy. Like I'm not. easy to be with. Like there's a lot of. [ __ ] that comes with me and. >> I've got a lot of baggage and I've got a. lot of spotlight and people don't I know. not everyone wants that. It's not fun. all the time. And I think my girlfriend. now, she's just really partner, she's. just, yeah, she's just present. She just.

rides the waves like and she's really. good to travel with. That is the biggest. thing. And that's how you know if she's. the one or not. If you can travel with. your partner and not lose your [ __ ] at. them with like delayed flights or shitty. hotels. If you can travel with your. partner, then she's the one. >> Yeah, it goes both ways. I always tell. people, I say, if you if you want to. know where you really are in a. relationship, travel alone with someone. No matter who it is, yeah, >> you will expose yourself because that's. you like when you wake up together, go. to bed together, deal with the hotel. together, the you know, like you said,

flight's delayed, there's a problem with. the seats, you will know who the other. person. >> adversity. Yeah. >> Yeah. You know, what does she think of. your Only Fans? Like. >> you cuz you have you have an Only Fans. I saw this and I was like I was like I. was like, Nick, what what the hell is. this? And then I was like, "Okay, it's. not what it's not like a It's funny cuz. Only Fans started off as this idea. >> where you could just share. >> insider insights." Now people think of. Only Fans as only being porn. When I saw. Nick Curiosity on Only Fans, I was like, "What?". >> Yeah. What did you think? You were going.

to see my What did you think? Are you. going to see my extra bit of equipment? >> Obviously not. >> I thought I was going to see your tennis. balls, Nick. That's what I thought, man. >> Yeah, baby. That's a lot a lot of people. want to see. But it's like it's crazy, you know? And it's like I'm just giving. insights of like my training regimes, like my rehab, my dog, like normal life. stuff that people love to see. It's. like, oh, I'm doing, you know, I've gone. behind the scenes of Good Trouble, my. show, or like, >> yeah, >> you know, like just tennis stuff. And. it's like. >> I think in a way, >> look, I I think some part of Honey Fan's.

obviously very very insane. Like I would. never ever do anything like obviously. I'm not going to go out there take my. shirt off and [ __ ] and do like that's. not happening. But at the same time, like I think look, there's a way to I. got so many fans that are willing to, you know, see my stuff and my stuff. I. mean, not not that stuff, but. >> not just and I think I think it's cool. But the cool thing about it is that. every media. platform now that wants to see what I'm. up to has to subscribe to my Only Fans.

So, I did my I do like big announce I do. a big announcements on my Instagram. I'm. like, make sure you go to my Instagram. And then all these media platforms are. subscribing to my only fans and then. they got to go and see what I'm doing. So it's like I'm just stealing I'm just. stealing their money. >> Oh wow. >> I don't know. Yeah. So any the tennis. world now has to sub to my only fans to. be like oh that's what he's doing. Oh. [ __ ] We had to sub. >> So now so then now they know what's. happen. It's like it's like paying the. tabloid to follow you for a change. >> Exactly. And it's payback. You're going. to start doing it now, aren't you?

>> Yeah. No, I mean that's actually I'm not. I'm not mad at this idea actually. Would. you ever do a Would you ever stream. gaming as well? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like I was That's. what I mean. I was streaming. I'm going. to I'm playing some games like Logan. Paul and stuff and I'm going to stream. them on only stuff. Like it's it's cool. Like it's cool. And I think I'm actually. >> helping the platform a bit gain some. more, you know, athletes. I think it's. cool. I would actually subscribe to if. like Jason Tatum or Boston Celtics had. only fans. I would hell yeah. I would. subscribe like to get inside the locker. room and see like dope like huddles. before they go out. 100%. Are you.

kidding me? I definitely I would. >> get inside the game and into the human. being. Well, you know what? I'll I'll. tell you as one of your fans. Yeah, man. I I I appreciate I appreciate who you. are as a person. I appreciate how flawed. you've been in public. I appreciate the. fact that you have you've survived. through it all. I know it's not easy. I. can't imagine what it's like, you know, at the age that you were doing it and. on, you know, under the microscope that. you that you're constantly under. But, um, yeah, man. I I I appreciate that you. that you try, that you grow, that you. talk about your mental health, that you.

you do it all, and that you're that. you're a great guy. For real, man. I. really appreciate. It's great to meet. your heroes and they are they're as. fantastic as you are, man. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Thanks for. having me on. >> Keep doing it. And I I promise you now, just do me one favor. I promise you now, this is what I it's the promise I made. to myself, Nick. I always go, if the. world is ending, you've got to figure. out what kind of party you're throwing. for it. And I think of that in your. career pay and play. >> Yeah. But I'm thinking I'm thinking the. same thing for you, man. When you're on. the road, when it's that final goodbye,

please I promise you I'm not wrong on. this. Make it a party, man. Leave. Make. it the biggest goodbye, the most fun. Bring your people. Make it rockus. Leave. your stamp on the sport. Don't let the. sport leave it stamp on you. I. >> appreciate that. Thank you. >> Yeah, man. >> Thanks. All right, bro. >> Thank you again. >> Take it easy. >> See you, man. >> All right. Cool. >> Bye. What now with Trevanoa is produced by. Spotify studios in partnership with.

Day0ero Productions, Fullwell 73 and. Odyssey's Pineapple Street Studios. The. show is executive produced by Trevanoa, Ben Winston, Jenna Weiss Sperman, and. Barry Finkele. Produced by Emanuel. Hepsis and Marina Heni. Music mixing and. mastering by Hannis Brown. Thank you so. much for listening. Join me next. Thursday for another episode of What. Now? [Music].