Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, has weighed in on Nick Kyrgios’ recent revelation that Andy Murray turned down an invitation to appear on his podcast and that the two are no longer friends. Stubbs, a former doubles World No. 1 and now a respected tennis analyst, didn’t hold back as she shared her thoughts on the matter, suggesting that Kyrgios’ comments come from a place of frustration and distance from the sport.
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Kyrgios and Murray once shared a friendly bond marked by mutual respect and playful banter. During Kyrgios’s mental health struggles, Murray showed genuine concern, even encouraging him to seek help, an act Kyrgios later praised.
However, their friendship soured after Murray declined an invitation to appear on Kyrgios’s podcast. Despite Murray’s past support and defense of Kyrgios in the media, Kyrgios recently revealed that they are no longer friends.
“I wouldn’t even know if he’s a friend anymore,” Kyrgios said on ‘The Unscripted Show’ podcast. “I guess he’s just like a colleague. We used to be closer. He was one of the people that was very supportive of me through there. But now we kind of don’t talk as much.”
“I wanted him on a podcast and he acted too important. So there’s your truth. It’s like, ‘bro, find some time’.”
Amid this backdrop, Stubbs shared her honest thoughts in a recent episode of her podcast. She said it’s easier for Kyrgios to make such remarks when he’s not actively competing, as he doesn’t have to prove himself on the court anymore.
“It’s a lot easier for him [Nick Kyrgios] to take those shots when he’s not playing tennis and doesn’t have to back anything up on the tennis court,” Stubbs said.
Stubbs also speculated on why Murray might have rejected the offer to appear on Kyrgios’ show. “Maybe Andy doesn’t want to come on your podcast. And I think one of the reasons why I would venture to say, is that Andy doesn’t want to have any controversial sh** out there. He probably feels like it’s going to be a bit of a gotcha,” she explained.
The Australian elaborated on how long-form podcasts differ from traditional tennis interviews, pointing out that such conversations can often explore sensitive or personal topics. “That’s what you have to know when you do podcasts, or when you do, especially long-form interviews,” Stubbs said. “You’re unraveling some big themes. You’re going into some moments.”
Stubbs then added that while Murray might feel comfortable joining other well-regarded tennis podcasts, she herself wouldn’t appear on Kyrgios’ show, citing his recent controversies and associations.
“I’m not sure that I would choose to go on Nick Kyrgios’ podcast, knowing how controversial Nick has become in the last couple of years. And it’s kind of the bedmates he’s kept with, you know, the Andrew Tates of the world and other folks,” she remarked.
Reflecting on Kyrgios’ relationships within the tennis community, Stubbs questioned whether he had said or done anything over the past few years to build trust with other players. “Did he say anything controversial about Andy over the last couple of years? He’s not, he’s not ingratiating himself to a lot of these players. They don’t necessarily trust that he’s going to,” she said.
Stubbs went on to point out the potential risks of joining Kyrgios’ podcast even with boundaries in place, given how unpredictable social media and the internet can be.
“But then you don’t know, right? Sh*t gets leaked. Stuff gets said. Somebody will say something. ‘Oh, this is what he said on the podcast. We didn’t release it.’ If I were Andy Murray, I would hang out with my kids and my wife and. Play golf,” Stubbs added.
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The 54-year-old also commented on Kyrgios’ current public image, suggesting that his attempts to stay in the spotlight have intensified since stepping away from competition. “Nick’s sort of claims at relevance seem to be the farther away we get from him playing professional tennis. A little bit more desperate,” she said.
Finally, Stubbs reflected on Kyrgios’ career as a whole, expressing that he may one day regret not fully realizing his potential. “I just feel like in 20 years’ time, he’s going to look back on his career. And he’s going to regret a lot of things…” she said, noting that his natural talent and major wins over Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic could have led to far greater accomplishments with more commitment.
