“Big day for George” – Nick Kyrgios hits the tennis court with his nephew, helps 1-year-old win rally

Nick Kyrgios, who was a finalist at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, recently joined his 1-year-old nephew George on the tennis court and assisted the young child in winning a rally.

Despite being at the Wimbledon Championships, Kyrgios was still able to be a part of a special moment for his family. His brother Christos and fiance Alicia welcomed their son, George Onyx Kyrgios, into the world in early July 2022. With the help of technology, Kyrgios and his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi were able to interact with the newest member of their family over FaceTime.

Recently, the Australian tennis player joined George on the court and assisted the 1-year-old in hitting a few shots with enthusiasm. Kyrgios placed a colorful tennis ball in George’s left hand and gently held onto his right hand, giving the 28-year-old control over George’s shots.

Despite Kyrgios jokingly grunting throughout the rally, it was George who emerged as the winner after hitting a few forehands and a one-handed backhand. His opponent’s antics only added to his excitement as he laughed out loud in celebration.

Accompanied by the caption, the ex-ATP World No. 13 took to social media to share the moment:

“Big day for George!”

Nick Kyrgios' Instagram post featuring his 1-year-old nephew George playing tennis — Nick Kyrgios’ Instagram post featuring his 1-year-old nephew George playing tennis

Nick Kyrgios Opens Up About Nerves and Insomnia Before 2022 Wimbledon Final

Novak Djokovic (L) and Nick Kyrgios (R) during the trophy presentation ceremony at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships

Despite making it to the semifinals, the 2022 Wimbledon Championships marked the furthest Kyrgios had ever advanced in a singles Grand Slam tournament. He faced strong opponents, including Paul Jubb, Filip Krajinovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Brandon Nakashima, and Cristian Garin, before earning the chance to compete against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.

Despite Nadal’s withdrawal due to a torn abdominal muscle the day before the contest, Kyrgios was able to advance to the final where he faced top-seeded Novak Djokovic.

Despite the Australian’s impressive performance in the first set, ultimately it was Djokovic who dominated the match, securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory. The Australian had been in excellent form throughout the tournament, but Djokovic’s strong performance in the second set onwards proved too much to handle.

In a recent episode of the Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios podcast, the Australian openly discussed his anxiety with guest Frances Tiafoe, specifically regarding the upcoming 2022 Wimbledon final.

“I didn’t sleep for two nights leading up to that match. I literally got like two hours of sleep, I was so anxious like every little thing that I did in my career led up to that one match, every gym session, every rehab session, every ice bath, every cold shower, led up to that one moment and it was just crazy that I was that close,”Kyrgios said.

The 28-year-old has been absent from competitive matches since his first-round defeat at the 2023 Stuttgart Open. In March 2024, he stated on Instagram that he would be back on the courts within a month, but did not specify whether he would be returning to tournaments or simply resuming practice.