Tennis Prose




Jan/15

22

Kyrgios Shining Bright At Aussie Open, Also Stirring Controversy

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by Louise Belcourt

After a break-out year in 2014, 19 year old Australian Nick Kyrgios has lit up a rowdy Australian crowd at this year’s Australian Open. Ranked 53 in the world, the young Aussie is into the third round for the first time in his home grand-slam.

Having not played many matches in the last few months and carrying a back injury, there was cloud over his physical ability. But despite concerns, his first round match was a long and decisive win over Argentian Frederico Delbonis 7-6(2) 3-6 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3.

“Delbonis played some unbelievable ball and really surprised me with his serving and first round aggression,” Kyrgios said.

Last night Kyrgios showed he can handle the home expectation with a gritty second round win over world number 20 Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Interestingly they even aided in his conquest.

“They got behind me a lot at some really key moments. I was interacting with the crowd”. “At stages they were telling me where he was going to serve.”

His wins were no easy task in a proud tennis country where they are so desperate for their next champion. It’s been over a decade since Australian Lleyton Hewitt was world number one, and with hope fading that Bernard Tomic at 22 years old would repeat the same fate, the Australian public are clinging to his every breathtaking stroke. This expectation seemed to weigh on the youngster with a usually relaxed and free-flowing demeanor, instead showing nerves in his first round match.

“I think the first round there was a lot of expectation and pressure to do something. When I got past that round – it was the first win for me in a long time – it gave me a lot of confidence in my game.”

Kyrgios next opponent is the 75-ranked Tunisian Malek Jaziri. It is very likely that he should overcome the Tunisian and in doing so could set up a tantalizing 4th round match with the world number 2, the great Roger Federer. Federer coming off his 1000th win by winning the Brisbane International less than 2 weeks ago, was tested in his 2nd round match with a 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over Simone Bolelli of Italy.

2014 marked Kyrgios on the tennis map. As a wildcard in last year’s Wimbledon championship, he stunned the world number one (and the tennis loving world) with a 4 set win over Rafael Nadal. This came after saving match points in his first round win over talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet. He followed this up in the US Open by making it to the 3rd round where he enraptured the New York crowd before losing in 4 sets to Tommy Robredo.

But Kyrgios is not without some controversy. 2 time grand-slam champion and Australian Davis cup captain Patrick Rafter commented “He (Kyrgios) is a potential superstar. I use the word potential because he has such a long way to go and if he doesn’t take all the right steps he’ll never reach that”.

“Nick’s a cheeky little bugger, he’s a funny kid, and I like his personality,” Rafter said. “But in terms or mentoring him or tutoring, I’ll only be there if he wants to talk to me, because he knows exactly how I feel. I’ve had enough conversations with him, and he doesn’t want to keep hearing the same message from me, and I’m not going to go down that path anymore.”

“I think it’s important for him to be a bit more level; he’s still too emotional. It really shows up on the court”, Rafter commented.

Kyrgios responded to this in yesterday’s press conference saying “Uhm, geez, I don’t know. I don’t know what to say to that. He has his own opinion, I guess.”

So not everyone is convinced of his attitude on and off court.

But with flare, talent and unbridled confidence Kyrgios will be a player to watch over the next week — and or perhaps the next decade or so!

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39 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2015 at 10:49 am

    Nice piece Louise, thanks for the update and insights from Melbourne. Brad Gilbert said the same thing on ESPN, Kyrgios shows too much emotional drama on the court and if he keeps carrying on and doing it every single match it’s going to agitate all the other players. It reminds of a guy at the park leagues in NJ years ago, he’d moan and whine after every point he lost, and it ticked off opponents. Kyrgios is still young and he’s definitely on the right path. Kyrgious is head strong and he probably has a confident mindset to his critics like, Hey you did it your way, I’m gonna do it mine. Kid’s got flair and charisma, some players just need to vent it out.

  • Andrew Miller · January 22, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Kyrgios is fine, he is much more tame than Connors etc of past eras. Kyrgios is by far the best talent to burst onto the tennis scene, probably since Murray’s breakthrough as a teenager.

  • Andrew Miller · January 22, 2015 at 11:26 am

    As for Rafter, he has a lot to offer Kyrgios but he probably has to let Kyrgios do his thing. If Kyrgios wants to talk to him I’m sure Rafter would take the call.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Kyrgios is a bit of a show off type player. The flamboyance and flashiness and theatrics will annoy opponents. Going to be an interesting player to follow his development.

  • dan markowitz · January 22, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    Geez, when Rafter makes a comment like that, it’s definitely a black mark on Kyrgios’ potential future. But Kyrgios might just be that kind of player who doesn’t need the support of the Aussie players before him. He might be so brash and good, he can tell Rafter to shove it and still have a big breakthrough. We’ll see…

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 9:27 am

    To be the best there has to be some arrogance, and Kyrgios seems to have that. Kyrgios knows what he’s doing, he has a feel for how the best play and he must know he’s got their measure

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Fed out. Not a shock. Everyone Fed plays it’s like the match of their career. For Fed it’s just another match. Evert talked about how it was harder for her to play with the same intensity later in her career. She mentioned her final match at US Open vs. Garrison where she was up 4-1 and 40-15 then lost 46 16. Evert said “I just went flat out of nowhere. And the match before Garrison I played one of my best matches ever against Seles.” Tennis is such a mysterious mental game. Great insights by Chrissie.

  • Dan markowitz · January 23, 2015 at 10:00 am

    But losing to Seppi?! That is a shocker. C’mon, Seppi hasn’t had a big win in a long time. When Fed lost to Robredo a couple of years ago at the Open never having lost to Tommy Ro before, I could see it because he’s a tough out. But Seppi?!

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Evert said it best, when the great champion gets in the late stages of their career, sometimes they suddenly go flat out of nowhere. For Seppi he was inspired to play Fed, get revenge for all those losses, it’s one of the biggest matches of his life to play Fed in a major on Laver. For Fed it’s just another ho hum match. Easy to see how this result happened.

  • Hartt · January 23, 2015 at 11:11 am

    Laver said the same thing as Evert about playing as an older player. He said one day you could play great, like you did in your prime and the next day just not have it, for no apparent reason.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Thanks Hartt. The Rocket would know. I think we have seen this aspect of tennis exhibited by Serena and Venus also.

  • dan markowitz · January 23, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    You could make the argument that as you get to the end of your career, the matches mean more, there are no more ho hum matches, because you know you’re not going to be playing an endless amount of matches.

    This is a shock. Fed’s been mowing everyone down. He just has not performed well in the slams, if getting to the finals and quarters of the two preceding this are bad for a legend 33 year old.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Dan it sounds like you are on the way to the shed to bring out your bury Federer shovel again 🙂

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    Remember, Sampras lost to Georg Bastl at Wimbledon then won the US Open two months later.

  • Andrew Miller · January 23, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    Seppi? Watched it and didn’t understand it. On one hand, it is a match-up Federer hates. He couldn’t stand playing Argentina’s Canas – lost twice, in a row, at two straight masters, Indian Wells and Miami, to the “slow-to-no baller” in’07. To some extent this makes little sense – Federer is used to playing slow/no ballers like Murray.

    On the other hand – this loss is a bad one. My guess is the IPTL (again), which had casualties on the women’s side (see Ivanovic, Ana; Wozniaki, Caro etc). There was no off season and for a Federer, he needs all the time he can get (maybe he peaked in beating Raonic earlier this month).

    However surprising it is (who loses to Seppi these days? Hewitt does, but then DY took him out and played Nishikori tough a year ago in Melbourne) it isn’t completely unsurprising. Seppi is good enough to stay in a match, played the match of his life, earned the win. Federer goes home and now gets his off season.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Seppi is the kind of player who is underestimated, a sleeper, very quiet, gets no hype at all, but he quietly has shown he can play big time tennis – the MP on Djokovic at FO, the steady ranking top 50 for eight straight years. You can’t sleep on this guy, very steady, good pop, plays smart, dangerous and hard to get up for a guy like Seppi. He played a great match, Fed just got nipped at the wire, all four sets were close. Not really a shock. This match was probably the biggest moment of Seppi’s life and he rose to the occasion. For Fed, he probably saw Seppi as a stepping stone, just another ho hum match.

  • dan markowitz · January 23, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Andreas Seppi beating Roger Federer is not shocking at a slam. Scoop, Fed was 10 and 0 against the guy, wasn’t he. All I know is Spadea couldn’t beat a soul in 2005, the year we wrote Break Point, he lost to the much lower ranked Russell in Toronto and then an unknown, Simon in Cincy. He went to New Haven and beat Seppi like a red headed step child.

    I like Andrew’s explanation better, Fed was greedy with the IPTL. The guy wanted the money over the chance to win a slam, I guess.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    I would guess his off season training blocks with Kokkinakis and the other player were just stay in shape weeks, not Rocky Balboa hardcore training. I don’t think IPTL was overly draining however, Fed did do that short tennis five setter with Hewitt in Sydney Opera House last week which maybe did deduct from his legs and freshness. That was sets up to 4 and it was a five sets and surprisingly quite a bit of running. Watching Giorgi-Williams, somebody please give Mr Giorgi a buzz cut, he’s the all time worst hairdo in tennis history, Mattek Sands has been removed from that dubious title.

  • Andrew Miller · January 23, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Seppi loss is bad. IPTL makes sense to me from a marketing standpoint – none of the top players do much in India/etc, where a huge market probably wanted a piece of them. But it was a big money grab – and most of the popular players get this money throughout the year at exhibitions. So the IPTL pile gets added to the rest of the trove.

    Sorry to bring this up, but tennis at the top level is not just about the glory. It also has a cynical side to it – the cash piles. I’d guess that a guy like tournament director Craig Tiley is mighty upset these days to lose a lot of seeds who otherwise should be marching on through to week 2 (with the exception of two time champ Azarenka – Azarenka earns her keep out there!)

  • Andrew Miller · January 23, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Good to know Oceans 11 Giorgi is hiding in clear daylight out there!

  • Dan markowitz · January 24, 2015 at 7:13 am

    What happened to Izzie going down in straight sets to Gilles Murller?! StrveJo out in 4 to Kei. Gimel’s debut a dud.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2015 at 7:28 am

    Gilles Muller has been on fire this year, lot of exp and a big time weapon there. Isner has been suspect with a comfortable draw so far. How about Keys, she may have to start practicing her major victory speeches, this girl has all the goods, well done by Davenport honing this major talent, you can see the difference. Career altering win vs. Kvitova.

  • Andrew Miller · January 24, 2015 at 9:05 am

    Gilles Mueller does a ca. 2005 “Where’s Andy’s Mojo?” in taking out Gimelsner, or Isnerstob.

    While the U.S. men’s tournament is over, let’s celebrate the other UK colonies: Australia’s Kyrgios and Tomic are moving on, both with exciting games, and Canada’s Raonic too, Pops almost (a straight set blowout by GGL) but without Sock I’m afraid he can’t make it in singles.

    On the women’s side, a lot to like in Keys’ dismissal of Kvitova. I had no idea Keys was that good. I have not been too high on McHale, but I do like Sloane Stephens. Keys and Madison Brengle (who?) are moving on to the rd of 16 to join Serena and Venus Williams.

    Camilla Giorgi really does play like Agassi, Dan was right – her tactical sense is not Agassi’s however, could use some good old chess playing. She strikes the ball with the ferocity of Henin – I rarely see this. Bouchard plays with unbridled desire also, but it’s not quite the same, Giorgi is cleaner off each wing. If Giorgi can improve enough she and Bouchard might have some interesting future battles. For now that’s not in the cards.

    Saw some Radwanska too. She is getting at least a 6-0 set every match. She looks better with Navratilova as coach, more belief. What a smart player – Radwanska really demonstrates yet again that clever tennis is possible. She just hits shots that you say what? That is like a public parks shot. And it is – homespun.

  • Andrew Miller · January 24, 2015 at 9:08 am

    “FACING RADWANSKA”

    Potential quote: “I had to do a double take. I’ve never seen that shot before”.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    Keys has been talked about for years, she is blossoming now big time with LD. Maybe Isnerstob should become Isnerstobenport. Lindsay may have the magic touch. No shock Isnerstob lost, Isner haas been in a rut now for a while, holding steady but no big shock wins like when he beat Djokovic in Indian Wells and Fed in Davis Cup. Isner beats who he should but not big wins that send shockwaves through the tour.

  • Dan Markowitz · January 24, 2015 at 3:06 pm

    If he beat who he should, he’d have beaten Mueller. Izzie started going downhill when he complained about the US Open crowd supporting Monfils in their match. I think he saw the writing on the wall.

  • Andrew Miller · January 24, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Mueller. Ok, first Federer loses to Seppi – no slouch but still an upset of epic proportions. Now Isner to Mueller. Gimelstob should have done the scouting here – never overlook Mueller, who when he gets up for a match can surprise. Isner should have won this match in straights.

    Bad loss.

    Make way for a new U.S. #1 on the men’s side. We all know it’s coming.

  • Andrew Miller · January 24, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    No offense to Isner either. I respect his game. Only that in this situation, with a chance to play someone who he matches up well with in Djokovic, looks too far ahead and loses to Mueller.

    Bad loss. I don’t think Isner will be shouldering the load in U.S. tennis the entire year, I think he will see the #1 spot in U.S. tennis stolen from under him though. This was a test for Gimelstob and Gimelstob failed. I’d guess he gets another shot in the upcoming pre-French hardcourt season. Isner does well traditionally in Indian Wells – maybe Miami too if he holds up.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Isner is a fearsome player at his best. We may never see him hit that level again, he might be in decline as Dan suggests.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    Gimelstob did his job and recruited Goran Ivanisevic to serve to Isner in practice before Muller match. Just gotta give credit to Muller we have seen him slay giants before (Roddick the biggest). I believe Muller qualified, so he’s sharp, confident and rolling. Not a terrible loss for Isner, but if he bombs out in IW and Miami, then it might be time to hit the panic button.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2015 at 10:53 am

    Murray escapes Dimitrov with a brilliant effort, from down 25 in the fourth he won 5 in a row. Kyrgios is on his way to greatness. QF after beating Seppi from two sets down. Sharapova pummels Peng, Bouchard falters but overcomes Begu. Halep keeps on winning.

  • Andrew Miller · January 25, 2015 at 11:13 am

    For semis i like Djokovic, Wawrinka, Murray and Berdych. For finals, Djokovic – Berdych with Djokovic reserving an extra seat on the plane for his trophy.

    For women i like Williams S., Radwanska, Makarova and Sharapova, with a Williams-Makarova final and Serena celebrating a down under win.

  • Bryan · January 25, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    Kyrgios into the quarters! Forget about toning down the emotion. I hope he stays the character he is. With some guys that emotion is what fuels great play.

    I am opposed to people who want to turn young gunslingers into robotic, disciplined tennis drones.

  • Bryan · January 25, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    “Isner is a fearsome player at his best. We may never see him hit that level again, he might be in decline as Dan suggests.”

    Reluctantly I’m starting to think the same. Isner is my favorite player along with Jerzy and Gulbis so it’s hard to admit. I thought he was primed for a deep run. He canceled the pre-AO title defense to preserve his body for the big one. First two rounds he was playing like a destroyer. No way in hell should he have lost to Muller.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    Agree Bryan, tennis has changed from the old days of Laver and Newk, it’s so physical and requires such intense effort that blowing off steam in the heat of battle is acceptable. Fully support Kyrgios and his colorful and passionate way of competing.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 25, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Isner needs a big big win, he has not shown in a long time that he can beat an elite top player. Looking at Isner’s game he has not made any changes or improvements, he plays the exact same way as he did years ago. You know what they say about a player who stops improving… they go backwards.

  • Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Berdych’s game isn’t “vastly improved” – but he has tightened the screws on some aspects – takes the ball just a little earlier, goes more for some angles. Sometimes it’s little stuff that matters more.

    For Steve Johnson, saw he hit a backhand down the line winner (and not a slice winner!) against Nishikori – they showed it in the highlights. Reminds me of once when Steffi Graf, in a match on t.v., hit a topspin backhand winner. Real shock.

  • Harold · January 26, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    Steffi Graf came over her BH, much more early in her career.
    Once watched her practice at the Open in the 80’s, she played around 10 minutes using a two-handed BH..Not too shabby

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    All these players can do anything. I saw Federer hit with a two handed backhand and it looked perfectly ready to use in a match. I saw Arnaud Clement hitting forehand slices and one handed backhands – two shots he never hit during a match. Seles’ father said she could volley well in practice but was afraid to do it in matches. I’m sure Agassi Serena and Djokovic could hit perfect one handed backhands. These players can do anything.

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