Nick Kyrgios’s unexpected presence in Naomi Osaka’s player box during her first-round match at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships sparked a wave of disapproval online, with fans questioning the four-time Grand Slam champion’s continued association with the controversial Australian star.
While Osaka marked a triumphant return to SW19 with a straight-sets win, the focus for many on social media was diverted to the sight of Kyrgios watching from her box.
Naomi Osaka’s Comeback Overshadowed by Nick Kyrgios’ Presence
Osaka, who is making her fifth main-draw appearance, aims to finally break through the third-round barrier at the All England Club. The Japanese tennis star opened her campaign with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Australian qualifier Talia Gibson.
However, all the attention shifted toward the presence of Kyrgios, who is not competing at Wimbledon this year due to ongoing knee problems. The mercurial star’s appearance in her box raised eyebrows, especially considering his turbulent past both on and off the court.
Once hailed for his raw talent, Kyrgios has repeatedly made headlines for the wrong reasons. His on-court behavior, from smashing rackets and verbal outbursts to run-ins with officials, has often overshadowed his skill.
More troublingly, off the court, in 2023, he admitted to assaulting his former girlfriend during a 2021 altercation. Though the court spared him a conviction, citing his mental health challenges, the incident remains a stain on his reputation.
His recent absence from the BBC’s Wimbledon broadcast team added to his current standing in the public eye. Despite all this, Kyrgios and Osaka have maintained a professional relationship. Their ties deepened in 2022 when Osaka’s sports agency, Evolve, signed Kyrgios as its first client.
Since then, they’ve appeared together on his Good Trouble podcast, which Osaka’s company, Hana Kuma, produces. The players are also scheduled to team up in the 2025 US Open mixed doubles tournament, alongside high-profile duos like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, and Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilović.
MORE: Questions Raised Over Naomi Osaka’s Plan To Have Nick Kyrgios As Her Partner at US Open by Rennae Stubbs – ‘Are You a Player?’
Social media platform X became the battleground for discontent after a photo surfaced of Kyrgios seated in Osaka’s box. One user wrote, “Why does she continue to associate with that misogynist?”
Why does she continue to associate with that misogynist?
— Andrew Davies (@AndrewD49190809) June 30, 2025
Another said, “Why would such a sweetheart like Naomi want anything to do with that ?”
Why would such a sweetheart like Naomi want anything to do with that
— smnnnn88 (@SSzmszk) June 30, 2025
“This weirdness level of both of them right now,” one user commented.
this weirdoness level of both of them rn https://t.co/0BOShDVcSE
— melonda (@haebbly) June 30, 2025
“Her association with this individual needs to be questioned,” a tennis fan wrote.
Her association with this individual needs to be questioned. https://t.co/czmFqllyn1
— Karl (@Craicthewhip_) June 30, 2025
Some fans expressed shock and sadness, particularly given Osaka’s advocacy for mental health and women’s empowerment. One comment read, “I find this friendship odd. Mental health camaraderie is great. [But] a strong woman being friends with a self-confessed woman-beater? ”
Another user echoed that sentiment: “Until she stops associating herself with losers and girl-beaters, she’s over for me.”
One fan of the Japanese star wrote, “Oh Naomi, I don’t think I can keep defending you.”
One tennis fan said, “… And this is why I can’t like her.”
