19
Delray Open: Kyrgios is the coolest dude in tennis
17 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
Nick Kyrgios could someday become the best player in the world with his weapons and potential. But until that day arrives when or if the 24 year old Aussie rebel puts it all together, he does reign the ATP in one category: he is the undisputed coolest cat on the tour.
Last night Nick demonstrated why. Before his match with John Millman at 8 on center court, he warmed up by playing one game of mini tennis and hitting four returns. Then he left the court and shot hoops in the gym for a half hour. Meanwhile, his adversary hit three times for six hours the day before and practiced at 10 am too.
Nick won the first set and at 4-4 in the second set, Nick’s cool was tested when a fan yelled out, “I’ll take you to Hooters after this.” Nick replied, “Now I’m motivated.”
Kyrgios missed a forehand long by ten feet on the following point and then said to his new buddy, “Don’t tell me that again, I got too excited.”
Nick lost the second set but kept his spirit and head in the match and ultimately prevailed 76 in the third.
Another funny crowd interaction was Nick telling a kid to take off his shirt because it was a Golden State Warriors shirt. Oh, and he also asked the ball kid where he should serve.
Kyrgios played intelligently vs Millman, mixing up his shots, playing defense, alternating tactics, it looks like he is determined to take his career serious and propel his game and ranking up to a range which more suits his talent than being ranked in the 70s.
But as is his way, Nick will continue to enjoy the ride and have fun with the fans even in the most tense moments of battle. Because this is his way, his nature and the fans love his nice, cool
character and charisma which is a welcome fresh element in the ultra serious cutthroat business of pro tennis.
Delray Beach Open · Nick Kyrgios
Chazz · February 19, 2019 at 11:47 am
Let’s hope he doesn’t tank matches anytime soon. If he plays to win and is on top of his game it is great to watch. I’m not going to say tennis needs him but good Kyrgios sure makes pro tennis more interesting.
Scoop malinowski · February 19, 2019 at 1:46 pm
Nick is special charismatic player. Everybody wants to see him succeed. It looks like he’s ready to transform to the next phase of his career. This will be a big tournament for Nick, he can turn it around in Delray. Millman was a important win. Doing Albot biofile soon, he beat ivo again.
dan markowitz · February 19, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Albot is my favorite little man in the game. Talk about effort and he is just a gutsy little player. He took over for Dudi Sela.
Scoop Malinowski · February 19, 2019 at 7:59 pm
Albot has become one of my favorite players too. He’s a warrior and class act. Slayer doctor Ivo again. Amazing player. Great biofile too.
Chazz · February 19, 2019 at 10:21 pm
Tiafoe with Jack Sock complacency syndrome? Unreal how bad his two matches were after AO quarters. He said he was hungry when he made his run in AO. He hasn’t looked hungry at all in NY and Delray.
Dan Markowitz · February 19, 2019 at 11:06 pm
A little karma payback for Osaka losing in her first match after canning Bajin? It wasn’t just that she fired him after winning the last two slams with him, but the way she did it, implying that he was bullying him and that she didn’t listen to his coaching.
Tiafoe at least played a close match with Evans, who as we saw when he battled Federer at the AO, is a very crafty player. But no, Fritz losing to Mac Mac is also a bad loss. It shows that these two guys who are probably the top two Americans now with Opelka coming up quickly, aren’t nearly ready for the big-time.
Scoop Malinowski · February 19, 2019 at 11:51 pm
Tiafoe is a very inconsistent player. Hot cold, high low, sensational mediocre. Arias called it in the first week of AO. At this point he should be on top of the problem, not training and clowning with his pal kyrgios. Tiafoe brutalized his yonex after the handshakes so maybe he will snap out of it.
Chazz · February 20, 2019 at 7:55 am
That Fritz loss, not as bothersome. You can throw out expected results when you play against a good friend.
Scoopmalinowski · February 20, 2019 at 2:02 pm
Agree. Fritz could be the little brother of big Mac. Big little bro syndrome. Fritz hit with Zane Khan this morning. Zane Khan hit again with Guillermo Garcia Lopez.
Dan Markowitz · February 20, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Bad loss for Fritz. Johnny Mac went to same college as Tim Mayotte. How many times did he lose to Mayotte? When you play a friend you should stomp him like Fed with Wawa.
Hartt · February 20, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Christian Garin 7-5, 6-4 in Rio. Garin beat Felix last week so this was an important match for Felix, and it means he will be in his first QF of a 500 tourney. He is now No. 89 in the live rankings. De Minaur just turned 20, so Felix and Shapo are the only teenagers in the top 100. Denis turns 20 in a couple months, and then 18-year-old Felix likely will be the only one.
Felix plays Munar, who had a close win over Norrie, next. Felix should have a shot at winning that match.
Scoop Malinowski · February 20, 2019 at 11:48 pm
Dan, to my knowledge Tim and John were not pals in college, and I don’t think they went to school together the same years, Tim told me for Facing McEnroe book that when he played John it was like “on the edge of a brawl.” So they obviously were not bosom buddies.
Scoop Malinowski · February 20, 2019 at 11:50 pm
Garin looked good almost beating Cecchinato last week too, so he was on his A game and Felix raised to another level. Big win for Felix AA.
Hartt · February 21, 2019 at 7:43 am
Even though he won in SS, Felix had to fight in that match because Garin did play pretty well, except for a couple very costly DFs that gave Felix breaks. Felix got better as the match went on, until he hit some terrific shots in that last game. If he can play at that level in his next match he has an excellent chance against Munar.
I had 2 British commies, one was Colin Fleming, and they were very excited about Felix’s variety of skills. They said one of Felix’s problems was deciding which shot to use, or which style to play. He can play well from the baseline, but can be successful at the net as well.
But the big thing is how well he moves. Felix got to a couple drop shots that you wondered how on earth did he do that, and then won the point, either right away or on the next shot with a nice volley.
Dan Markowitz · February 21, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Why is Felix playing on clay courts in South America and not on hard courts in the US when the two biggest tournaments of winter are on hard courts in the US? I don’t see any other Indy Wells/Miami top players playing in these events except for maybe Thiem and Fognini.
Scoop Malinowski · February 21, 2019 at 4:39 pm
Kozlov won two rounds in Mexico Challenger with his new coach, but lost today, a close one 46 67 to Roberto Quiroz, the lefty. Very winnable match but three forehand errors from 43 in the second set breaker and the DF on MP. Albot up 62 36 31 now on Kyrgios.
Hartt · February 21, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Dan, Felix is playing those tourneys because he likes clay, it is his best surface. Also, he feels that playing on clay is the best way to improve his game. I don’t think this is a reason, but he gets WCs for those tourneys.
I don’t know how playing on clay will affect IW and Miami. He has to play qualies for IW.