Nick Kyrgios passionately kisses girlfriend Costeen Hatzi as they finally return home – and the star explains the ‘weird’ Australian habit that makes him feel disrespected
- Nick Kyrgios arrived in Sydney on Tuesday
- Injury-prone star has had a frustrating 2023
- Will not participate in the Australian Open in January
Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios has been spotted passionately kissing his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi at Sydney airport as he finally returned home in time for Christmas.
Kyrgios, 28, flew in on Tuesday and was clearly happy to celebrate his return home with his long-term partner after a long spell abroad.
The polarizing star – and recent Only Fans convert – also warmly hugged Costeen’s mother Mary Hatzi.
It comes as Kyrgios stated in a recent interview that he feels “more respected” in the US than at home because he feels the expectations Australian sports fans place on their heroes are “weird”.
He also dismissed talk from previous greats like Boris Becker that players of his generation would hold their own in today’s game.
Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios was spotted passionately kissing girlfriend Costeen Hatzi at Sydney Airport as they arrived home before Christmas on Tuesday
Only fans converted Kyrgios was clearly happy to be back on home soil with his long-term partner after a visit to the US
The polarizing star also warmly hugged Costeen’s mother Mary Hatzi (pictured right)
It comes as Kyrgios stated in a recent interview that he feels ‘more respected’ in the US than in his home country
‘I feel more respected here [in the US],” Kyrgios told The Athletic.
“Australians don’t expect athletes to do anything other than play their sport, and that’s really strange.
‘I definitely see myself coming back at some point and playing at a high level again… last year was intense with the amount of tennis I played, I think this [2023] It was a year to balance it out.”
It comes after Kyrgios played just one match this year, losing to journeyman Wu Yibing in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June.
He missed all four grand slams due to injury and recently announced he will not take the court ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
In the same interview, German champion Becker – who won Wimbledon in 1985 as an unseeded 17-year-old – was in Kyrgios’ sights.
“Sometimes it’s hard to watch these old heads breaking down the game for new fans all the time,” he said.
The Canberra-raised star also believes the expectations Australian sports fans place on their heroes are ‘weird’
Kyrgios played only one match this year due to injury, losing in straight sets to journeyman Wu Yibing in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June
The 28-year-old missed all four Grand Slams due to injury and recently announced he will not take the court ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park
Kyrgios dismissed claims that players like six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker (pictured) could hold their own in the current match
“It’s like some of the things they say don’t add up. Some of these people make me think, “What are you talking about?”
‘The game was so slow then… ‘I’ve seen Boris Becker and I’m not saying they weren’t good in their day, but to say they would be just as good now is absurd.
‘A large raise then was 197 against 200 [kmh]. People like me serve 220 consistently, right into the corners. It’s a whole different ball game.
‘I’m not saying they wouldn’t have found their way… but serve and volley, to do it all the time now, you have to serve 220… because if you serve anything less than 220, man, [Novak] Djokovic will eat you alive.’