When Nick Kyrgios forged Rafael Nadal's signature; issued apology later

Nick Kyrgios once forged Rafael Nadal’s signature as a mischievous act of revenge after a China Open loss.

Nick Kyrgios has always given tennis fans plenty to talk about, from thrilling performances on court to headline-grabbing antics off it. However, his latest revelation is pure mischief—the Australian star confessed that he once forged Rafael Nadal’s signature to saddle the Spaniard with a hefty hotel bill.

The incident took place during the 2017 China Open. Kyrgios was enjoying a strong run and a happy week. He also reached the final of the tournament, only to suffer a crushing 2-6, 1-6 defeat at the hands of Nadal. This loss had left him heartbroken.

“I was having a really good week, finals of Beijing, pretty big tournament. Then I get destroyed by Nadal,” Kyrgios recalled in an interaction with talkSPORT.

Later that night, Kyrgios was back at the hotel with friends, trying to forget the disappointment. “Having a couple of wines, a couple of drinks with my boys… I thought, ‘You know what? This guy just destroyed me, probably earned over $1 million that week.”

That’s when the idea of lighthearted moment of revenge came to his mind. “I put all of my room service on Nadal’s room and signed as Nadal. The waitress had no idea — to this day, I don’t think she knows,” he said.

The 30-year-old then offered a humorous apology in his classic laughing tone. “I’m sorry, Rafa, if you got this outstanding couple-grand bill from me. Actually… I’m not sorry at all. You’ve earned way too much cash in your career.”

Also Read: Rafael Nadal, wife Mery Perello welcome their second baby boy Miquel: Reports

Indeed, the 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal had collected a mouthwatering of prize money. He is estimated to have a net worth of around $220 million as of 2025.

As for Nick Kyrgios, the seven-time ATP singles title winner is facing an uphill battle to revive his career lately. The former world No. 13 played only four singles matches this year. His most recent appearance came at the Washington Open, where he teamed up with Gael Monfils in men’s doubles but bowed out in the round of 16.

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