Nick Kyrgios makes brutally honest admission about what it was like to play in prime Federer-Nadal-Djokovic-Murray era

Nick Kyrgios has candidly shed light on the challenges of competing during the peak years of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. The Australian confessed that the thought of winning a Grand Slam title felt unimaginable due to their overwhelming dominance on tour.

After his highly anticipated comeback at the Brisbane International ended in an opening-round loss to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Kyrgios is aiming to deliver a stronger performance at the Australian Open. Ahead of the event, the 29-year-old reminisced about the formidable level of competition he faced at the Major earlier in his career, admitting to feeling like the "worst player" in the draw at the time.

In conversation with Alexander Bublik and Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou on the UTS Tour talk show, Nick Kyrgios recalled a memorable edition of the Melbourne Slam where he reached the fourth round.

Facing a stacked draw with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray in their prime, along with tough opponents like Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka also at their peak, the Australian admitted that he knew he was done for.

"I was talking to someone the other day. Like, I remember when I was making like fourth rounds and quarterfinals of a Grand Slam and I was like, by far the worst player in the draw," Nick Kyrgios said.

"Like, one year in Australian Open, it was fourth round and then the players were like, obviously the four guys: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, like in their prime. Then you had Wawrinka in his prime, Cilic in his prime, Monfils, Tsonga, Gasquet, Berdych, Del Potro, Nishikori. I was like, I’m f**ked," he added.

The 29-year-old emphasized how difficult it was to contend for a Grand Slam title during that era, asserting that the task was "impossible" due to the dominance of the 'Big 4.'

"That era was like, I was like, I’m not winning. Like I got chopped against Murray fourth round so many times and now I think it’s a good opportunity. I felt I could win but I never felt like I was going to win a Slam. Not with those four in their prime. It was impossible," he said.

Kyrgios also pointed out that no player in history had managed to triumph over all four of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray en route to a Slam win, highlighting that even reaching the latter stages of tournaments was an impressive achievement.

"How are you going to beat three or four of them to win? It’s not possible. No one’s ever done it. Like Nalbandian did it one time in a Masters event. No one ever did it in a Grand Slam," Nick Kyrgios said.

"Well then you’ve got to get past someone in the fourth round, like Nishikori as well. And it’s not possible. Yeah, it’s a joke. I remember those days, I was just like, if you made fourth round, it was an amazing week. It was like, I did the best I could. Crazy," he added.

Nick Kyrgios: "I've played against Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray, I have a higher tennis IQ than them"

Nick Kyrgios - Source: Getty

Despite acknowledging the challenge of facing Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray in their prime, Nick Kyrgios recently expressed his belief that he possessed a higher tennis IQ than the 'Big 4.'

In an appearance on the 'Let's Trot' podcast, Kyrgios justified his claim by citing his run to the 2022 Wimbledon final without a coach and asserting that it was an unmatched feat.

"I've played against Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray. I have a higher tennis IQ than them. I don't know if anyone in the history of tennis has reached the Wimbledon final without a coach. So, as far as IQ is concerned, I would choose myself," Nick Kyrgios said.

Nick Kyrgios will be in action at the Australian Open next, which is scheduled to commence on January 12. The 29-year-old will continue his hunt for his maiden Grand Slam title, with Mats Wilander expressing confidence in Kyrgios' ability to achieve the extraordinary.