Q. You were serving and volleying very well, which is hard to do against Rafa. How did you feel about it?

NICK KYRGIOS: He’s just a tough player to serve against. Especially on the ad side. Where he stands is difficult because he almost wants you to go wide on the ad side. He stands so far behind the baseline, he makes a lot of returns.

I think it’s important to mix up serve and volley whenever you can, if you feel confident doing that. But, I mean, today I thought he actually played really well. I thought he played well. I played well. I thought it was a good match.

Q. The mixed doubles aside, what does the next few weeks hold for you? Take a break? What do you do now?

NICK KYRGIOS: I’m not sure. I got my house in the Bahamas. Might go there and just chill out.

Q. You spoke yesterday about Ash Barty, how you’ve known her for many years. She’s been a super talent. If she ever got her head together, she’d be a Grand Slam champion. Many would say the same thing about you and your talents. Do you hope it all comes together for you somewhere down the track?

NICK KYRGIOS: It’s a tough question. I don’t know. I kind of like – I don’t know. I don’t really have an answer to that question at the moment. Sorry.

Q. What did you make of the news about Bernard Tomic today? He got docked 100 per cent of his prize money for his effort in the first round, and what kind of precedent that sets in the sport?

NICK KYRGIOS: I think it’s a little rough, maybe all of the prize money. I mean, one, Tsonga is an unbelievable player. Two, I think people kind of when they watch Bernard, they just think because he moves a little slow, plays the game a little slower, he doesn’t look maybe as engaged as, I don’t know, say, a Carreno Busta or something. They just assume he’s maybe not trying or giving 100 per cent.

I don’t agree with fining the guy all of his prize money. He earned his right to be in the draw. He played the whole year. He’s obviously winning enough to be at the most prestigious tournament in the world. To take all his prize money I think is outrageous.

I just hope Bernard is all right.

Kyrgios underarm serve pic.twitter.com/iW8wcJCZAP

— Justin Stevens (@_JustinStevens_) July 4, 2019

Q. Two underarm serves today. Seemed to get quite different reactions from the crowd. They kind of loved the first one, some boos on the second one. They both worked. Why did you put it back in the locker after that?

NICK KYRGIOS: I don’t know, man. If I do something outrageous, I get, like, destroyed in the media for it. I thought I’d be professional and hit a normal serve. That’s what I was thinking.

No, I’m kidding.

I just didn’t want to hit another one. Oh, shoot me down for not hitting an underarm serve Centre Court against Rafa.

What do you want from me, man? I don’t know what you want from me.

Q. What made it a great match was the level of needle there was, all the history. How important is it just for tennis as a whole to have those kind of rivalries? And do you regret not apologising for hitting him with the ball in the third set?

NICK KYRGIOS: Why would I apologise?

Q. That’s the convention, isn’t it? If you hit someone with the ball?

NICK KYRGIOS: I didn’t hit him. Hit his racquet, no? Why would I apologise? I won the point.

Q. He didn’t look too pleased.

NICK KYRGIOS: And?

Q. You seemed to wind him up.

NICK KYRGIOS: I don’t care. Why would I apologise? I mean, the dude has got how many slams, how much money in the bank account? I think he can take a ball to the chest, bro. I’m not going to apologise to him at all.

Q. Did you aim it straight at him?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, I was going for him. Yeah, I wanted to hit him square in the chest. Like, he’s got decent hands.

Q. Before the tournament you said you weren’t sure how many more Wimbledons you would play. Do you imagine yourself coming back here the next few years?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah.

Q. Really?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah. My record is pretty good on grass, no? So I would assume I’d probably play Wimbledon.

Q. Ash Barty had a long break, came back, turned into world No. 1. Is that something that might help you?

NICK KYRGIOS: You’re taking the p***. He literally just asked that three minutes ago. Like the exact same question, right?

Next question.

Q. Between the atmosphere on Court 3 the other day, amazing, and today, Centre Court at Wimbledon, but people are laughing and interacting, everyone was so engaged from start to end, what does that mean to you to be able to bring that to a place like Wimbledon?

NICK KYRGIOS: Yeah, it’s special. I’m always willing to go out there and try and put on a show. I know people that bought a ticket today probably had a great day. A lot of good matches on that court. That was a really good match. I enjoyed myself a lot out there.

At times today I was looking around. This is Wimbledon, playing Rafa. I’m having a lot of fun. I was a little different, underarm serves. A lot of people watching, so …

SOcial media REACTION

Sincerely hope @NickKyrgios kick-starts a wave of underarm serves. All this chat about respect is nonsense – is a drop shot disrespectful? Looks like a legitimate tactic to me! #bbctennis

— Jon Naylor (@JonNaylor) July 4, 2019

Nadal (jn Spanish): We need to stop talking about all of the the stuff Nick does. The more we talk about it and make headlines about it, the more he's going to keep doing it. We need to talk about his talent, because that's good for tennis.

— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) July 4, 2019

Nadal waiting to walk off court with Kyrgios after everything that’s happened is nothing but class.

Well done and great match. #Wimbledon

— Matt Dowell (@TheMattDowell) July 4, 2019

The stare Nadal gave Kyrgios after that slap shot hit him would have melted platinum.

— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) July 4, 2019

Ok, well Kyrgios just hit the hardest forehand I have EVER seen deliberately into Nadal’s stomach.

Nadal just about got a racquet on it. And glared at him for 7 seconds.

Kyrgios spun the racquet on his finger … #Wimbledon.

— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) July 4, 2019