Rod Laver expressed very high praise about ATP No. 13 Nick Kyrgios when the Rocket’s new statue was unveiled at Melbourne Park…
“Ability-wise, he could be the best tennis player in the world, only he is the one that gets in his way.
He plays some magnificent tennis but then something gets in the way and he finds himself being challenged by other things, whether behavior or whatever seems to come up.
Looking at maybe (his) maturity, he’s still very young (age 21) on the world tour. I want him to be the best player in the world. We need another great Australian champion.â€
No tags
Hartt · January 8, 2017 at 12:08 pm
I saw the actual clip and Laver was not sure how old Nick is, Laver guessed 19. Nick will be 22 in April, time is running out on the young card.
Andrew Miller · January 8, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Nick is following the Safim playbook for now. Ridiculously good player, head scratching antics. Often falls to a Robredo or Mischa Zverev when it counts as they bore him with consistency. Reminds me of a young Agassi without Agassi success at same age, less than Safim too.
But if he ever wakes up, finds something worthwhile in the sport that chose him, I’d think there’d be an earthquake in men’s tennis and it would swallow the status quo, ending the reigns of big five and ushering in the next next kids. That’s a fantasy today but it happened before with Sampras in 1990. Becker before him. They effectively ended the Connors McEnroe Lendl era. And this big 4,5 era has an expiration date too.
To be on the safe side in the predictions side here I believe Kyrgios always needs in country peer pressure to push himself. I think tennis Australia knows this and at some level they see this in the form of a more reliable number two. I think that’s going to be De Minaur, who has so far been shielded from overexposure and who has earned his street cred by losing unceremoniously to next generation hype smasher Mischa Zverev.
Thomas Tung · January 8, 2017 at 3:52 pm
When I see Nick Kyrgios I see Mark Philippoussis 2.0 — and Mark feels the same way, too, from his comments over the last year (esp. at Wimbledon).
Scoop Malinowski · January 8, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Nick is writing his own playbook with crayons on wet paper – Nick’s gotta dig down deep and cut out the nonsense if he wants to be a legendary champion which he has the talent to be –
Andrew Miller · January 8, 2017 at 7:57 pm
Dimitrov played video games en route Brisbane title so Nick is fine if he finds some ways to do this maybe hang out with grigir and minfils both
Andrew Miller · January 8, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Thomas comment is right !!!!
Hartt · January 9, 2017 at 9:55 am
When having a look at Philippoussis’ career came across his comments about Nick after the Wimbledon press conference where Kyrgios said he did not love tennis. Mark seems skeptical that someone who had had such good results did not love the sport but went on to say if that is really the case, Nick should quit tennis, because even with raw talent nothing was going to happen.
For Kyrgios’ sake hope his career does not follow Mark’s, especially with so many injuries and knee surgeries.
Scoop Malinowski · January 9, 2017 at 10:19 am
Everybody who plays tennis for years and years LOVES it – what tennis players hate is LOSING –
Hartt · January 9, 2017 at 10:31 am
Scoop, imagine you are right!
Hartt · January 9, 2017 at 10:39 am
The players I feel badly for are the ones who are desperate to play, who have made a lot of sacrifices to be in the sport and then get sidelined by major and recurring injuries. There is a piece on the Tennis.com site about Jerzy Janowitz trying to come back after long periods off because of his knee (and dropping to No. 280). His doctor told him he might not be able to play any longer, so it is good to see him back (although, to be honest I was never a Jerzy fan).
But he lost in the 2nd round of qualifying in Aukland to Mmoh. A nice win for the youngster but it must have been extremely tough for Janowitz to lose that one.
Scoop Malinowski · January 9, 2017 at 10:47 am
Hartt: I AM 100% sure of it 🙂 Tennis players (especially the very serious players) HATE losing – just yesterday I beat a friend again and he was tortured by another close tough bitter loss and he said after “I hate myself and I hate tennis” — yes he really said it :0 – If Agassi hated tennis so much then why didn’t he quit years earlier instead of pushing on and playing to the last possible day when his body and back could no longer handle the rigors? Because Agassi loved tennis that’s why –
Scoop Malinowski · January 9, 2017 at 10:48 am
Life is unfair to certain players who love to play but the body just fails to be able to do it for them -Jerzy / Baker / Jamie Hampton / Rios / Guga / Norman / etc –
Hartt · January 9, 2017 at 11:27 am
I love the stories about how players hate to lose, super competitive about everything. In an interview on the WTA site Bethanie Mattek-Sands talks about that. She and her husband play Roshambo to decide who has to get up to turn off the lights. BMS claimed she has never turned off a light. 🙂
Andrew Miller · January 9, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Actually take Kyrg at his word he may feel that way sometimes folks don’t like their day jobs but kyrgis is a young guy . May need an entourage to make the abnormal live more normal NBA stars have
catherine bell · January 9, 2017 at 3:04 pm
Andrew –
That’s what entourages are for – to make the unliveable more liveable.
Everybody needs one 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · January 9, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Hartt: I have heard stories about players losing and then erupting – Fernando Gonzalez smashed all his babolats in us open locker room after losing five setter to Dent – a former USA no 1 star destroying a locker room in Naples – there are probably countless tales of tirades in both the ATP and WTA locker rooms 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · January 9, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Speaking of entourages: while doing Facing Andy I am learning a lot about Andy’s team and how having fun and playing pranks are a big staple of their modus operandi – nobody enjoys the tour or has more fun than Andy and his crew – you will have to ready Facing Andy for the amusing details 🙂
catherine bell · January 10, 2017 at 3:38 am
Scoop –
Obviously you have to be a successful player to fund an entourage so I imagine lesser players might miss that kind of cameradarie.
Unless they have a few wealthy friends 🙂
Bobby · January 14, 2017 at 5:41 pm
Rod Laver is insightful yet nationalistic and optimistic with his statement. But there may be some
truth to his statement. I believe Nadal has given Kyrios similar accolades regarding his tennis ability. “Kyrgios is already at the top. (He is) a player who has an unbelievable potential. He has focus on himself, and can become world No. 1 and win a grand slam,†Nadal said. (fox sports)
Scoop, is Facing Andy about Andy Murray or Andy Roddick? Interesting to hear about the post match tirades.
Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2017 at 7:13 pm
Bobby: Rafa surely knows tennis greatness and always gives credit where credit is due and Kyrgios deserves all these accolades – now he just has to fulfill the potential we all see in him – The book will be “Facing Andy Murray” and will include the thoughts and anecdotes of about 50 players including Andy Roddick – Have not heard anything about any Andy tirades after losing but have heard a few relating to Roddick 🙂 – Thanks and welcome back to the site –