Being written off by his own mother helped inspire Nick Kyrgios to his historic Wimbledon triumph over Rafael Nadal.
The Canberra teenager was surprised to read an interview from back home in which his mother Norlaila talked down his chances against the world No.1 in the fourth round.
"Last night, I was reading a comment that she thought Rafa was too good for me," said Kyrgios, after his 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory on Tuesday.
"It actually made me a bit angry.
"You would think he's in a whole another level compared to me.
"I just believed in myself that I could create some opportunities and I took them under pressure."
Kyrgios is from a tight-knit family but his mother and brother Christos have remained home in Canberra while his father George and sister Halimah are at Wimbledon with him.
Asked what he would say to his mother after the win, Kyrgios said: "I'll just send her a smiley face."
Halimah Kyrgios sat next to her father in anguish for much of the three-hour battle on centre court.
She said the pair had been quietly confident of Nick's chances against Nadal but, seeing him shine so brightly on the biggest stage, was an emotional experience.
"I just started crying, to be honest," Halimah told AAP.
"I've never been so shocked an overwhelmed at the same time.
"He played the best tennis I've ever seen him play.
"I wasn't actually surprised because he's been playing amazing the last two weeks anyway.
"We're so proud of him."
Halimah wasn't surprised to see her brother lap up the big occasion.
"He loves the crowd," she said.
"I think that's one of the ways that helped him win."
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