Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, known for his Greek and Malaysian heritage, recently spoke about his family history on Louis Theroux’s podcast.
Reflecting on his Greek background, Kyrgios mistakenly described his father’s hometown of Ioannina as a “small island.” Though Ioannina is a lakeside city with a small island, it is part of the Greek mainland.
“My father left Greece in 1965, leaving Ioannina—a small island, I thought—with my grandmother and uncle to pursue a better life in Australia,” Kyrgios recalled.
While he might have been confused by Ioannina’s famous lake and its island, his sentiment remained clear.
Although he doesn’t speak or understand Greek, Kyrgios says he feels deeply connected to his roots: “I lived in Melbourne for two years, a city with a big Greek community. Each time I played the Australian Open, I felt the love of the Greek diaspora.”
The tennis star also shared his early challenges with the sport, noting, “Basketball was my first love. I had a hoop outside that was barely standing. Tennis wasn’t my passion at first, but my father suggested we play, and soon a coach noticed my potential.”
By the time he was around nine or ten, Kyrgios and his parents were traveling to tennis tournaments across Australia.
“My mum would make my favourite mac and cheese, and we’d stay in caravans on a budget. It might sound tough, but those are my best memories,” he said.
Kyrgios concluded, emphasising the hard work behind his success: “My journey wasn’t effortless; I worked ten times harder than most people.”
From humble beginnings, Kyrgios has risen to a world ranking of No. 13 and achieved a Grand Slam doubles title—a testament to the sacrifices his family made for him.
