Nick Kyrgios, Venus Williams to Team Up for Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios announced Saturday he’ll play mixed doubles with Venus Williams during the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, which begin Monday.
“The mixed doubles team of the tournament,” Kyrgios told reporters.
The 26-year-old Aussie hinted toward an appearance in the mixed doubles draw Tuesday:
Nicholas Kyrgios @NickKyrgios
MIXED DUBS WIMBY???? 👑👑👑
Williams is an accomplished doubles player, often playing with her sister Serena in Grand Slam events—the siblings are a staggering 14-0 in major finals as a team and also won three Olympic gold medals—but she also teamed with Justin Gimelstob to win the Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles titles in 1998.
Her partnership with Kyrgios is nearly four years in the making.
Williams, who’s also captured seven Grand Slam singles titles during her Hall of Fame career, mentioned him as a dream doubles partner in 2017, which caught the eye of the hard-hitting Australian:
Nicholas Kyrgios @NickKyrgios
Thankssssss legend 🙌🏽🙇🏽 <a href=”https://t.co/GwxCVVNjrQ”>https://t.co/GwxCVVNjrQ</a>
Kyrgios has never advanced beyond the third round of a doubles tournament in a Grand Slam, so it will be uncharted territory for him if the star-studded tandem makes a deep run at the All England Club.
Both players are also taking part in their respective singles events. Williams will take on Mihaela Buzarnescu in the first round on the women’s side, while Kyrgios faces a tough matchup with 21st-seeded Ugo Humbert in his opener in the men’s bracket.
The mixed doubles draw will be released Wednesday.
Venus Williams
.jpg) Williams in 2012
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| Country (sports) |  |
|---|---|
| Residence | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S. |
| Born | June 17, 1980 Lynwood, California, U.S.[1] |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Turned pro | October 31, 1994 (aged 14) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| College | Indiana University East (BSBA) |
| Coach | Richard Williams Oracene Price David Witt (2007–2018) Eric Hechtman (2019-present) |
| Prize money | US$42,065,362 |
| Official website | venuswilliams.com |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 814–258 (75.9%) |
| Career titles | 49 WTA (11th in overall rankings) |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (February 25, 2002) |
| Current ranking | No. 102 (May 17, 2021) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (2003, 2017) |
| French Open | F (2002) |
| Wimbledon | W (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008) |
| US Open | W (2000, 2001) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Grand Slam Cup | W (1998) |
| Tour Finals | W (2008) |
| Olympic Games | W (2000) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 185–36 (83.7%) |
| Career titles | 22 WTA |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (June 7, 2010) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (2001, 2003, 2009, 2010) |
| French Open | W (1999, 2010) |
| Wimbledon | W (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016) |
| US Open | W (1999, 2009) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | SF (2009) |
| Olympic Games | W (2000, 2008, 2012) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 28–8 (77.8%) |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1998) |
| French Open | W (1998) |
| Wimbledon | F (2006) |
| US Open | QF (1998) |
| Other mixed doubles tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | F (2016) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | W (1999), record 21–4 |
| Hopman Cup | RR (2013) |
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Medal record
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|---|---|
| Last updated on: February 22, 2021. |
Records and achievements
| Championship | Years | Record accomplished | Player tied |
| 1997 French Open – 2021 French Open | 1997–2021 | Most appearances (89) in Grand Slam singles draw | Stands alone |
| 1999 French Open – 2016 Wimbledon | 1999–2016 | First 14 Grand Slam doubles finals won (with Serena Williams) | Serena Williams |
| 2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open | 2002–2003 | Four consecutive runner-up finishes | Stands alone |
| 2002 French Open – 2003 Australian Open | 2002–2003 | Four consecutive runner-up finishes to the same player (Serena Williams) | Stands alone |
| 2003 Australian Open – 2017 Australian Open | 2003–2017 | 14 years between first and last final | Chris Evert Serena Williams |
| 2000 Wimbledon – 2017 Wimbledon | 2000–2017 | 17 years between first and last final | Serena Williams |
| Wimbledon | 2005 | Longest women’s singles final[108] | Lindsay Davenport |
| Wimbledon | 2007 | Lowest-ranked champion (31st)[109] | Stands alone |
| Wimbledon | 2007 | Lowest-seeded champion (23rd)[109] | Stands alone |
| Wimbledon | 2008 | Fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)[110] | Stands alone |
| US Open | 2007 | Fastest serve by a woman (129 mph)[111][112] | Stands alone |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2012 | 4 Olympic gold medals | Serena Williams |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | 5 Olympic finals | Stands alone |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2012 | 3 doubles Olympic gold medals (with Serena Williams) | Serena Williams |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | Most Olympic medals won by a male or female player (5) | Kathleen McKane Godfree |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | Has won an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles & mixed) | Kathleen McKane Godfree |
| Summer Olympics | 2000–2016 | Has won an Olympic medal at four Olympic Games | Stands alone |
| Miami Open | 1998–2002 | 22 consecutive singles matches won at this tournament | Steffi Graf |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | 2009–2015 | 16 consecutive singles matches won at this tournament | Stands alone |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | 2010–2014 | 2 consecutive singles titles without dropping a set | Justine Henin |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | 2014 | Only unseeded player to have won in singles and as a wildcard | Stands alone |
| Connecticut Open | 1999–2002 | 4 consecutive singles titles | Caroline Wozniacki |
| Connecticut Open | 1999–2000 | 2 consecutive singles titles without dropping a set | Stands alone |
| U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships | 1998–2007 | Most singles titles won at this tournament (3) | Stands alone |
| Southern California Open | 1999–2002 | 4 consecutive singles finals | Tracy Austin |
| Mexican Open | 2009–2010 | 2 consecutive singles titles | Sara Errani Lesia Tsurenko |
| Year-end Championships | 1998-2008–2015 | Won all three title Grand Slam Cup, WTA Finals and WTA Elite Trophy in singles |
Awards
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Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player. A former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, Williams is generally regarded as one of the all-time greats of women’s tennis and, along with younger sister Serena Williams, is credited with ushering in a new era of power and athleticism on the women’s professional tennis tour.
Williams has been ranked world No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association for a total of 19 weeks (11 in singles and 8 in doubles). She first reached the No. 1 ranking in singles on February 25, 2002, becoming the first African American woman to do so in the Open Era, and the second all time since Althea Gibson. She became the world No. 1 in doubles for the first time on June 7, 2010 alongside Serena, after the pair won their fourth consecutive Grand Slam doubles crown. Williams’ seven Grand Slam singles titles are tied for 12th on the all-time list, and 8th on the Open Era list, more than any other active female player except her sister. She has reached 16 Grand Slam finals, most recently at Wimbledon in 2017. Her five Wimbledon singles titles tie her with two other women for eighth place on the all-time list, but give her sole possession of No. 4 on the Open Era List, trailing only the nine titles of Martina Navratilova and the seven of Serena Williams and Steffi Graf. From the 2000 Wimbledon Championships to the 2001 US Open, Williams won four of the six Grand Slam singles tournaments in that span. At the 2021 French Open, Williams extended her record as the all-time leader, male or female, in Grand Slams played, with 89. With her run to the 2017 Wimbledon singles final, she broke the record for longest time between first and most recent grand slam singles finals appearances. Williams was twice the season prize money leader in 2001 and 2017, and currently ranks second behind Serena in career prize money earned with over $41.8 million. She has also won 14 Grand Slam Women’s doubles titles, all with Serena Williams; the pair is unbeaten in Grand Slam doubles finals.[19] Williams also has two Mixed Doubles titles. Her combined total of 23 Grand Slam titles across all disciplines is tied with Steffi Graf for the fourth-most by a women’s player in the Open Era behind Martina Navratilova, Serena, and Martina Hingis.
Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in singles and three in women’s doubles with her sister, along with a silver medal in mixed doubles, tying her with Kathleen McKane Godfree for the most Olympic medals won by a male or female tennis player in history. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Williams became only the second player to win Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles at one Olympic Games, after Helen Wills Moody at the 1924 Summer Olympics (she was followed by her sister in 2012). After winning silver in mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Williams became the first tennis player to win a medal at four Olympic games, as well as the first player in the Open Era to win an Olympic medal in all three events (singles, doubles, mixed). She and Serena are also the only tennis players in history with four Olympic gold medals, as well as the only ones to win Olympic gold in the same event on three occasions. She along with her sister Serena are the only female tennis players to win Olympic Gold in both singles and doubles category in history of tennis.
With 49 WTA singles titles, Williams trails only her sister Serena Williams among active players on the WTA Tour with most singles titles. Along with her 22 WTA doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles, Venus’ combined total of 73 WTA titles is also second among active players behind Serena. Her 35-match winning streak from the 2000 Wimbledon Championships to the 2000 Generali Ladies Linz tournament final is the longest since January 1, 2000. She is also one of only two active WTA players to have reached the finals of all four Grand Slams, along with sister Serena.
Nick Kyrgios to pair with Venus Williams for Wimbledon mixed doubles in return to tennis
MONTREAL, QC – AUGUST 09: Venus Williams of the USA returns a shot to Serena Williams of the USA during the women’s semifinals match in the Rogers Cup at Uniprix Stadium on August 9, 2014 in Montreal, Canada.
Nick Kyrgios has announced former world No. 1 Venus Williams will be his mixed doubles partner at Wimbledon as he makes his return to tennis.
Kyrgios, 26, had tweeted on Tuesday implying he would be involved with the mixed doubles and confirmed his partner as Williams when asked during a pre-tournament press conference Saturday.
“The mixed doubles pair of the tournament,” he said.
Williams is a two-time mixed doubles winner at Grand Slams, having won titles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 1998.
Kyrgios, however, has never gone beyond the third round of a doubles tournament at a Grand Slam. His most recent partners were Amanda Anisimova at the 2020 Australian Open and Desirae Krawczyk at Wimbledon in 2019.
In a 2017 interview, Williams mentioned Kyrgios as her dream doubles partner.
As well as competing in the mixed doubles, both will compete in the singles events at the tournament starting on Monday.
Kyrgios faces a tough first round against Ugo Humbert while Williams will play Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Wimbledon marks Kyrgios’ return to competitive action after taking a break from the tennis circuit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He last played in the Australian Open in February 2019.
“I didn’t feel at all that I had to play. I didn’t feel obligated to play,” he said about his decision to return to tennis with Wimbledon.
“I wasn’t pushed. I made a decision. When I was home I wasn’t looking at any results. I’d go on Twitter and see the odd result here or there. But I was happy without tennis.
“I just feel like I’ve got a little bit to give, left in the game. I feel like a lot of people wanted me to play. I feel like I’m playing for a lot of people.
“No one’s made me play. I didn’t feel like I had to play. It’s just a decision that I made.”
Nick Kyrgios
_(48521949772).jpg) Kyrgios at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships
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| Full name | Nicholas Hilmy Kyrgios |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  |
| Residence | Canberra, Australia Nassau, The Bahamas |
| Born | 27 April 1995 Canberra, Australia |
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Turned pro | 2013 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$8,727,182 |
| Official website | nickkyrgios.org |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 165–97 (63.0% in Grand Slam, ATP Tour main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 6 |
| Highest ranking | No. 13 (24 October 2016) |
| Current ranking | No. 56 (24 May 2021) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2015) |
| French Open | 3R (2015, 2016) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2014) |
| US Open | 3R (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 42–45 (48.3% in Grand Slam, ATP Tour main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 68 (19 June 2017) |
| Current ranking | No. 254 (17 May 2021) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2018, 2021) |
| French Open | 3R (2017) |
| US Open | 3R (2016) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 6–6 (50.0%) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2020) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2015) |
| US Open | 2R (2015) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | SF (2015, 2017) |
| Hopman Cup | W (2016) |
| Last updated on: 26 May 2021. | |
Nicholas Hilmy Kyrgios (/ˈkɪriɒs/ KIRR-ee-oss; born 27 April 1995) is an Australian professional tennis player. As of April 2021, he is ranked No. 55 in the world in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and is the third highest-ranked Australian in the ATP rankings. Kyrgios has won six ATP titles and has reached nine ATP finals, including the 2017 Cincinnati Masters.
In his junior career, Kyrgios won the boys’ singles event at the 2013 Australian Open and the boys’ doubles event at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships. During his professional career, Kyrgios reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships—upsetting then world no. 1 Rafael Nadal and world no. 13 Richard Gasquet en route—and the quarterfinals of the 2015 Australian Open. Kyrgios is only the third player, after Dominik Hrbatý and fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt, to have beaten Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic the first time he played each of them.
Kyrgios has a reputation as a talented but volatile player who frequently gets into trouble for his on-court conduct. On August 15, 2019, Kyrgios was fined $113,000 for his conduct at the Cincinnati Masters; the fine set an ATP record.
Tennis world in frenzy over Nick Kyrgios and Venus Williams news
Nick Kyrgios has sent the tennis world into a frenzy after revealing he will team up with Venus Williams to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
The mercurial Aussie star put a call out on Twitter earlier this week asking for suggestions about who he should play mixed with at the All England Club.
And it seems as though Venus was the overwhelming favourite.
“The mixed doubles pairing of the tournament,” Kyrgios declared at a pre-tournament press conference on Saturday.
I was right!
Nick Kyrgios will play mixed doubles at #Wimbledon with Venus Williams
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 26, 2021
In 2017, Venus responded to a question about who her dream mixed doubles partner would be by saying: “I don’t know, I think it’d be fun to play with Nick Kyrgios.”
And now the 41-year-old has got her wish.
Kyrgios couldn’t ask for a more experienced partner, with Venus winning 24 doubles titles in her career – two of which were mixed.
The American champion won the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open and French Open in 1998, and was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2006.
The former World No.1 has also won five Wimbledon singles tiles, as well as six doubles titles with sister Serena.
Kyrgios has previously played mixed doubles with Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open in 2020 and Desirae Krawczyk at Wimbledon in 2019.
The prospect of seeing Kyrgios and Venus in action together in mixed doubles sent tennis fans into a frenzy on social media.
I’m here for all the Nick Kyrgios and Venus Williams mixed doubles matches 🎾🌱 #Wimbledon
— Steve Weissman (@Steve_Weissman) June 26, 2021
For real? Omg
— Kate Zarifeh (@KateZMedia) June 26, 2021
I love this, I hope they go far!!
— Jacinta S. (@Jacinta__S) June 26, 2021
Good Lord.
— El Chopernos (@El_Chopernos) June 26, 2021
Oh my
— Hayden Hunter (@HaydenHunter_12) June 26, 2021
Now that’s some mixed doubles
— Fidato (@tequieremos) June 26, 2021
Great news. Both are awesome players. ❤️
— KIMVaL (@KimzSpotz) June 26, 2021
Nick Kyrgios and Venus Williams will be mixed doubles partners at #Wimbledon. That should be fun.
— Biola Solace-Chukwu (@Beeorlicious) June 26, 2021
Nick Kyrgios a changed man at Wimbledon? YES, BECAUSE HE’S WITH VENUS WILLIAMS, ONE OF THE GREATEST TENNIS PLAYERS, EVER.
Kyrgios said on Saturday he “wants to be a better tennis player and a better person” at Wimbledon where he made his breakthrough as a brash teenager in 2014.
The 26-year-old Australian famously defeated Rafael Nadal on his debut at the All England Club seven years ago on his way to the quarter-finals.
Since that time, there have been seemingly endless spats with officials and other players as well as suspensions and fines.
However, having not played outside of Australia since February last year, Kyrgios says he is changed man.
It’s a transformation partly sparked by a lengthy absence from the tour as his country battened down the hatches in the face of the pandemic.
“I want to be better as a tennis player and a person,” said Kyrgios.
“I have reached a nice level of freedom, nothing fazes me at all anymore and I feel I have more to give the game.
“I feel a lot of people want me to play.”
A former top 15 player, Kyrgios is now down at 61 in the world
He has not played since the Australian Open in February where he let slip a two sets lead to lose to US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the third round.
On the way, he defeated France’s Ugo Humbert – who he will now face in his Wimbledon opener.
“I definitely feel I could beat 50 percent of the draw on grass without much preparation,” he claimed.
“I know for a fact that nobody here wanted to play me first round. I feel confident going into this match.”
with agencies
