Nick Kyrgios stuns Grand Slam champion with Wimbledon move after BBC snub
Naomi Osaka had no idea that Nick Kyrgios was in her box cheering her on in the first round of Wimbledon after jokingly inviting him - not expecting him to rock up.
The Australian, who made the final at SW19 back in 2022, is not in action but is in London and observed as the Japanese star won in straight sets. Osaka has won two Grand Slams in the past - two in the US and two in Australia - but has not reached those heights for years.
She remains one of the tour's bubbliest personalities and begun her grass court effort impressively, winning 6-4, 7-6 against Talia Gibson. In the lead up to the contest Osaka joked that she'd like to have Kyrgios in her box cheering her on. He ended up accepting her offer, even if she had no idea he was there.
Osaka said: "Oh, my God. I jokingly told someone, Hey, I know Nick's around, maybe he wants to come to my match. But I was joking, 'cause I know we're, like, two completely different players. Honestly, I would have loved to come to his matches, because I know he's pretty fun.
"Yeah, I think that's also a big part of why we're different is 'cause I know he kind of like tells his box what to do, and he probably would have noticed if I was in there. I kind of, like, zone out most of the time. That's a little embarrassing that he was there. I guess it is cool that he was there."
READ MORE: Wimbledon star asks security to eject 'dangerous' fan as she was left in tears
Osaka will play mixed doubles with the Australian this summer and it was put to her that he was studying her game, but she played that down but insists she has always understood that way he carries himself.
She added: "No, I mean, I am really excited to play mixed doubles with him. I think he's obviously won a doubles tournament. Well, we've played last year. I think Fritz was being a little bit too serious on me. Yeah, I think it should be fun. I don't know. I feel like for me, I have always felt like I've always related to him in a weird way, even though we're completely different. I kind of understand some of the things that he does.
Article continues below
"So yeah, I am glad that he came to my match. I hope in some way maybe he felt I wouldn't be bold enough to say 'inspired', but I hope he could relate a little bit to the things that I do, too."
Kyrgios been dropped for BBC's Wimbledon coverage this year amid huge backlash after he assaulted his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari. The Australian star worked as a pundit for the broadcaster during last year's tournament, a decision which caused outrage after he admitted assaulting Passari during an incident in 2021.
He is not playing in London after he was ruled out of the competition due to injury after suffering a "small setback" in his recovery.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Cardiff weather ahead of first Oasis gig as fans get set for band's epic reunion
Oasis fans can't wait to see Noel and Liam Gallagher perform at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday as their long-awaited reunion tour finally kicks off Oasis fans will be pleased to know there is no rain forecast for Cardiff when the band's reunion gig kicks off on Friday, July 4. For months, ticket-holders have been waiting to watch Liam and Noel Gallagher on the same stage after a 16-year hiatus – and it looks like the sun will be shining in Wales for their epic comeback gig. The forecast in Cardiff, according to the BBC, predicts sunny intervals and a moderate breeze, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees. It's a pleasant day in the Welsh capital today, with a refreshing breeze and sunny spells, which should hopefully continue into Friday when the Wonderwall stars reunite. READ MORE: Huge Oasis warning issued to thousands of fans attending Heaton Park reunion Cardiff has already been given a taste of what to expect when the Don't Look Back In Anger legends take to the stage for the first time in over a decade. Oasis were always bound to return with a bang and there is already chatter about what to expect on Friday from those living close to the Principality Stadium, which last week hosted American singer, Lana Del Rey. The band has already arrived in Cardiff to rehearse on stage and fans close to Westgate Street say they have heard the setlist in full. Earlier in the week, those near the town centre heard Cigarettes and Alcohol blasting out of the stadium. They were also treated to hits Some Might Say and F****n' In The Bushes. According to one fan on Reddit, Oasis is set to play an epic 24-song setlist. The fan revealed the rehearsal setlist, which teases what may be included in the live shows. They claimed it kicks off with an intro of F****n' in the Bushes then Hello, Acquiesce, Morning Glory followed by Some Might Say. Cigarettes & Alcohol is next, followed by Fade Away, Supersonic, Roll With It, Bring It On Down. It is believed Noel will take on Talk Tonight, Half the World Away, Little By Little. Oasis has already revealed the stage times for their shows in Cardiff as doors will open at 5pm before first support act Cast warm up the crowd at 6pm. Verve frontman and friend of the Gallaghers, Richard Ashcroft will then take to the stage at 7pm. Then, at 8.15pm this Friday, Oasis will play for just over two hours before they will end the set for a 22.30pm curfew. Speaking about the first reunion gig, a source told us: "With a new lineup and it being such a huge first show, the boys will do some songs inside the venue too. Some tours would start with a smaller show or take a week or two to get into the groove again. "But there is no time for that, and also Liam and Noel want every night to be massive. This is such a huge comeback show, and they are taking it very seriously. It all points to it being an incredible comeback tour."
The Independent
37 minutes ago
- The Independent
The BBC claims impartiality over Gaza but there is a conflict of interest at its heart
The BBC struggles to get anything right about Gaza. Last week, it decided not to broadcast a searing documentary about Palestinian doctors under attack, citing vague concerns about ' a perception of partiality '. This week, it's the coverage of Glastonbury and why no one was alert enough to press the mute button on a rap-punk duo called Bob Vylan. Though it has garnered less outrage the former smacks of either editorial naivety or institutional cowardice.. But, fortunately, the top brass at Channel 4 appear to have more backbone and the film, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, will be shown tonight. People can judge for themselves. It seems to me to be exactly the sort of documentary which the BBC should broadcast. The film graphically shows the horrors of working in Gaza hospitals these past 21 months in an unflinching and quietly devastating light. It documents a litany of death, violence, cruelty, suffering and inhumanity. There are allegations of the targeting, abduction, torture and effective murder of doctors and nurses, along with denials by the Israeli army [the IDF] that they have been involved in any such things. No Western media organisation has been allowed free access to Gaza, which makes it doubly complicated to tell the whole truth about what has been happening in a war in which 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced, at least 56,156 Palestinians have been killed and 132,239 have been injured. And, yes, these are Gaza Ministry of Health figures, and the Ministry of Health is controlled by Hamas. But that's all we have. There is quite a collective of organisations and individuals who monitor the media round the clock for any whisper of anti-Israeli 'bias'. And we can confidently expect the Gaza medics film to be attacked within hours of broadcast. I would expect there to be criticism of the social media feed of the highly-experienced freelance reporter, Ramita Navai, who has described Israel as a 'rogue state that's committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing and mass-murdering Palestinians'. I would not be surprised if a diligent researcher finds that one or more of the medics who appear in the programme has a second cousin once removed in Hamas. Or personnel who even belonged to Hamas. My own judgement is that, if they do emerge, such claims should not discredit or undermine the overall impact or importance of the documentary. This film was, I'm told, cleared by the compliance squad at the BBC. The corporation has not advanced any credible reason why it was subsequently suppressed beyond its statement around 'a perception of partiality'. If the documentary leads to heated debate about the issues, and whether they have been fairly represented, that's well and good. That is partly the role of public service broadcasting. But these are not the only mistakes the BBC has made over Gaza. A previous, unrelated, BBC documentary was withdrawn when it was revealed that a boy narrator was related to a middle-ranking Hamas official. BBC chair Samir Shah told MPs it was a 'dagger to the heart' of the BBC's claims to trust. The BBC Board promptly announced an inquiry. That was on 27 February, and we're now in July. It's evidently what Sherlock Holmes would call a three-pipe problem. Holmes would have quickly divined why it was such a ticklish matter: because it could end up calling into question the judgment of the ultimate editor-in-chief of the BBC, the director general, Tim Davie. The Telegraph has reported that Deborah Turness, the BBC's chief executive of news and current affairs, watched the documentary before it was broadcast, but failed to question it. Heads must roll? But this is where the curious governance arrangements of the BBC kick in. And where we are forced to confront other 'perceptions of partiality.' The BBC has a board of directors, but most of them have no experience in journalism or broadcasting. The crucial BBC committee is the five-strong editorial guidelines and standards committee. Shah leads it and it includes both Davie and Turness. So if these particular heads are to roll, some turkeys are going to have to vote for Christmas. The only other person with editorial experience on this committee has, until recently, been Sir Robbie Gibb [the fifth member was former Tate boss Nicholas Serota and, since 3 April, Dame Caroline Thompson]. Forgive the recap, but you may remember Sir Robbie as the former No 10 spin doctor imposed on the BBC by Boris Johnson's government and then re-appointed last year by Rishi Sunak. He has described himself as a 'proper Thatcherite Conservative'. His career has zigzagged between right-wing politics and journalism. There is not even a perception of impartiality about his political beliefs. But when it comes to his judgments on the Middle East it is even more complicated. You may recall the curious episode which resulted in Sir Robbie becoming the apparent sole owner of The Jewish Chronicle (The JC). In April 2020 he led a consortium to rescue the title from bankruptcy – while refusing to reveal who actually put the money up. He appointed Jake Wallis Simons as editor. And it was Wallis Simons who ran a vigorous campaign for a parliamentary inquiry into the BBC's coverage of Jews and Israel. He was not a fan. The Gibbs/JWS era at the JC was not a happy one, with the press regulator twice forced to consider an investigation into standards; with five leading columnists quitting and with a fellow member of his own original consortium saying that the editor was 'behaving like a political activist, not a journalist…. it does a disservice to the Jewish community because it consolidates this idea that the Jewish community abroad is in some way sort of complicit by their silence with the excesses of the IDF.' Gibb resigned as a director just before the editorial calamity which saw The JC publish a fabricated story. Israel newspapers suggested they had been placed in the European media to support Benjamin's Netanyahu's negotiating position over Gaza. There is an ongoing inquiry into the matter: the Israeli security service, Shin Bet arrested Eli Feldstein, a spokesperson for Netanyahu, who had previously worked for the far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The long-standing JC columnist, Jonathan Freedland, said, 'The latest scandal brings great disgrace on the paper – publishing fabricated stories and showing only the thinnest form of contrition – but it is only the latest. Too often, The JC reads like a partisan, ideological instrument, its judgments political rather than journalistic.' Wallis Simons parted company with The JC soon afterwards. So, yes, Sir Robbie Gibb – who presided over much of this – has been, until recently, the only external figure with journalistic experience to sit on the crucial BBC editorial committee. The minutes for two meetings this year show the committee has discussed BBC coverage of the Middle East. In January the committee discussed the timing, scope and methodology for a review of the BBC's coverage. In March they discussed it as an 'emerging editorial risk.' For an organisation obsessed with 'perceptions of partiality', it seems odd, on the face of it, to have had the very partial Sir Robbie Gibb in such a role. That perception has certainly alarmed more than 400 media figures who have urged the BBC board to remove Gibb. They include no fewer than 111 BBC journalists. So I contacted the BBC to ask if he had, in fact, recused himself from any discussions about the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict. The answer came back: No, he hadn't. I asked a further question: did Sir Robbie have any conversations about the Doctors Under Attack documentary, including with the director general or chair? The response was somewhat cryptic: 'I can confirm that [Sir Robbie] had no formal role in any of the discussions or decisions about whether the BBC should run the film – I'm afraid I have no way of knowing whether BBC board members have had discussions about various live issues affecting the BBC but as I've said before, the decisions about the film were taken by BBC News.' It is reasonable to assume, I think, that Sir Robbie may have had informal discussions. All this makes one wonder about the judgement of the newish chair, Samir Shah. He came into the job knowing about Gibb's journalistic track record, along with his obsessive desire to keep secret who is bankrolling The JC. A strong chair, interested in trust and impartiality, would surely have asked him to step out of the room when the BBC's coverage of the Middle East came up. But, no. So this is where we seem to be. The BBC junked a film because of 'perceptions of partiality'. But the key decisions – including the futures of Davie and Turness – are strongly influenced by Sir Robbie Gibb, who has shown no evidence of impartiality when it comes to the Middle East. It sounds like a two-tier system to me. Meanwhile, our attention is absorbed by the far less salient question of whether some hapless producer failed to press the mute button for Bob Vylan. I think it's called deadcatting.
Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC commentators fume at Wimbledon star for 'absolutely ridiculous' antics
Cameron Norrie came from a set down to beat Frances Tiafoe at Wimbledon but it was the American's antics before the final set that rattled the BBC commentary duo BBC co-commentator John Lloyd took aim at Frances Tiafoe's antics during his second round Wimbledon with Cameron Norrie as he labelled the American "absolutely ridiculous". Tiafoe claimed the opening set on Court 1 on Wednesday afternoon before Norris, who is a former semi-finalist at SW19, fired back to win the next three sets. But it was the American's antics after the third set that caused controversy as he decided to take a moment to compose himself, but took his time in doing so. Before the fourth set could begin, Tiafoe took a prolonged period of time to collect his belongings from his side of the court before heading for a toilet break. He appeared to grab a towel, t-shirt, shorts and fresh trainers from his bag before requesting a toilet break from the umpire. It took seven minutes for him to return with Lloyd claiming he was deliberately trying to halt Norrie's momentum. Not that it worked as the Brith would claim the fourth set to progress with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory. He said ahead of the fourth set: "This is ridiculous, I'm sorry but it's absolutely ridiculous. The momentum of the game. And you had the French Open final and they didn't go for one bathroom break in five hours. Not one. If I was Norrie I would go out and hit a couple of serves." Andrew Castle, who was also on commentary duty, joked about the amount of stuff that Tiafoe was taking as he joked: "It looks like he is moving in." The French umpire Damian Dumusois allowed Tiafoe to then slowly walk off the court with Castle letting rip as he claimed it was unfair on the home player. He said: "Damian Dumusois in the chair here. I'm not sure what he can do. You've got the court official waiting to lead him off and the loo is just back there. I think this is actually unfair to the person who is in front and is on the charge." Lloyd then added: "I think if you have to have a bathroom break, you get your stuff immediately. You can't just wait three minutes deciding which shirt and shorts you want to wear. This for me, I don't agree with it at all. I think this is wrong." Norrie said after his win: "I just stayed calm and played point by point. It was so nice to play Frances at such a big match. I served really well in that last game and you guys we were amazing in that last game so thank you. "It's so special. You forget so quickly. You just feel goose bumps. It's such a special court and such a special tournament. I just walked out and smiled as much as I could. And then you have to go out to battle. I'm really happy with my level today."
