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Rebel Rios Reveals Which ATP Players Entertain Him Most
4 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
Former ATP World No. 1 Marcelo Rios loves to watch Roger Federer, whom he considers the greatest player of all time.
But the rebellious, controversial Chilean southpaw says there are two other ATP players who he finds to be entertaining multi-dimensional characters to watch on court.
“I s*** with laughter with Kyrgios and Fognini. I like to see that tennis. Today you throw a racket and they put a fine on you, you can’t do anything. Tennis has made so many rules.”
Fognini is a fine, former top ten player, a former Monte Carlo champion, who struts around the court with an arrogant swagger and sometimes hot headed attitude. Fognini has been fined for use of bad language and other antics. I once saw him at Miami Open hit a lunging backhand volley angled winner which left him at the net post, virtually face to face with a glasses wearing Asian ballboy. Instantly after the volley winner gave Fognini a second match point vs Chardy, Fognini for no apparent reason screamed to the poor ballboy’s face. The kid didn’t faint, he just carried on like nothing happened. Fognini won the match on the next point.
Nick Kyrgios is best know for sometimes playing magical tennis – which even Federer, Rafa and Djokovic can’t handle – and also clowning antics which can turn a professional match into a comical exhibition. Roger Federer even said during his first match vs. Kyrgios in Madrid: “All this circus needs is a clown.”
While many traditional players, fans and media criticize Fognini and Kyrgios, former great Marcelo Rios supports and praises their unique personalities and charisma, two characteristics professional tennis needs more of.
Rios was scheduled to play Kyrgios in an exhibition in Chile after Laver Cup. The Yonex produced event was announced in the spring but it appears to have been canceled because there is no new information about it and neither Rios or Kyrgios have mentioned it recently on social media.
Fabio Fognini · Marcelo Rios · Nick Kyrgios
Robert Hurley jr · September 29, 2021 at 4:59 am
Good to see Rios enjoying todays colorful characters. Fognini seems to have more staying power than Kyrgios.
Scoop Malinowski · September 29, 2021 at 8:01 am
Hi Robert. Fognini far more serious than Nick, has a coach and fitness guy. But Fognini has lost to Korda and Nakashima this year. Nick is a journeyman now.
Robert Hurley jr · October 10, 2021 at 8:17 pm
Yeah Nick should have a coach. Even Federer has coach Ljubicic to help him. Nick is wasting his talent by not having s coach that could calm him, motivate him, help him with strategy.
Scoop Malinowski · October 11, 2021 at 7:41 am
Bobby, Nick is probably the biggest waste of talent in tennis history. Having a coach a good coach, would help him be top ten but just does not have the character and ego to fully dedicate himself to being the best player he can be.