Nick Kyrgios is 22 now and ranked 20 in the world. The tennis world has been waiting for the ultra-talented Aussie to explode like Safin at a major tournament but it has yet to happen outside of the big win at Wimbledon a few years ago vs Nadal.
Since then we have seen countless flashes of the Kyrgios genius. As recently as Miami we saw Kyrgios extend Roger Federer all the way to a 67 76 67 epic semifinal battle. The following week Nick knocked out the USA from Davis Cup by crunching Isner and Querrey in six straight sets in Australia.
But since then Super Nick has been mediocre by his standards. He beat Harrison and Baghdatis but then was smoked by Nadal in the Madrid quarterfinal 6361. Then came a first match loss to Nick Kicker in Lyon and a second round dispatching by Kevin Anderson in four sets at Roland Garros. Then at Queens Nick retired in hi first match with a leg injury after losing a first set tiebreaker to Donald Young.
Since Key Biscayne it’s been sloppy, substandard results by the every unpredictable Kyrgios.
Has the charismatic showman been saving his best for Wimbledon? Or is the sensitive superstar throwing it all away, quite content with his role as an ATP sideshow, and just not ready to play the exhausting role of elite champion/ambassador/politically correct symbol.
Kyrgios has boasted on Twitter that he is not a puppet. But we all know to be an ATP elite champion, a player has to become in a sense a sort of puppet for the ATP, who says all the right words and does all the proper actions 24/7.
A renegade like Marcelo Rios would not survive in today’s politically correct culture. Heck, even a young Andre Agassi would struggle with keeping himself from igniting media firestorms with his words and actions.
Therein lies the intrigue of Nick Kyrgios. Will he continue to flame out on a path to underachieving results like a second round loss to Kevin Anderson? Or will he get his act and his mind together and finally explode like a volcano with a Marat Safin like breakout?
And what will it take to light such a fire under Kyrgios? Thiem and Zverev have passed him by but in Nick’s head he has to believe he’s equal if not better than those two. In his one match vs Thiem, Nick retired at 43 two years ago in Nice. Nick is 2-0 this year and career head to head vs the no 12 Zverev.
Will their success spark Kyrgios? Or would even the Jelena Ostapenko shock in Paris do the trick? Or will Nick follow the path of Bernard Tomic and waste his precious gifts?
The pressure is on Nick at Wimbledon which will reveal quite a bit about the future of this most compelling Australian wonder who says he is only at 65 percent health with his ailing hip. But of course that could be a clever smokescreen to reduce expectations and pressure.
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1 2 Next »Moxie · July 2, 2017 at 8:11 pm
I'm waiting for Nick to break out into full flight, too, but I'm inclined to believe he was ailing as recently as Queens, and might think to get my hopes up more for the North American HC swing. I really hope he doesn't decide that being a renegade and non-complier is worth blowing all that talent.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 3:51 am
catherine writes:
Frst, I suspect Kyrgios has a body which is prone to injury – he's certainly young to be having so many joint problems. He's a much better player than Tomic I would say so I hope the injury problems can be sorted with the right medical/physio help. Mentally, he'll never be a placid character but as you say, who wants that ? Second, I don't agree with the pc issue in the men's game.Men are always shooting their mouths off. Women are much more compliant and sheep-like. When did you last hear a woman player say anything seriously against the WTA party-line ? Puppets all.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 6:23 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Kokkinakis is younger but more injury prone. I think Kokkinakis has had at least five surgeries. Nick body looks suited for tennis to me. I dont buy all the chatter about his being hunched over bad posture. Hes a physical beast with a spectacular physique for any sport. Funny how these silly notions can gain media traction. Nick is a physically gifted super athlete.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 7:28 am
catherine writes:
I didn't mean Kyrgios isn't exceptionally althletic, and he's never seemed unusually hunched over to me. It's just that sometimes tendency to certain types of injury isn't always apparent and Nick does have hip problems – but then so do a number of other players. And yes, with Kokkinakis you wonder if his body is really up to tennis at the highest level.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 7:34 am
catherine writes:
Nick already struggling at W'don. Could be injury worse than he's said.
herios · July 3, 2017 at 7:43 am
0-2 sets to Herbert, who has been upsetting some pretty good players before, like Thiem.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 8:28 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Could end up being the biggest waste of talent since Philippoussis or Rios. Could win five majors – no idea which route Nick will take.
isabelle · July 3, 2017 at 8:30 am
end of the road for injured bad Nick
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 9:18 am
catherine writes:
Laura Robson should really be thinking about retirement.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 9:25 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Why would he bother to play if he's so hurt? Janowicz beats Shapovalov – big win for JJ. Giorgi beats Cornet. Giorgi ready to Ostapenko the draw.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 9:26 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Catherine: Kimiko Date is not even thinking about retirement why should Robson?
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 9:34 am
catherine writes:
Laura is struggling to win matches anywhere, this is the third year she's gone out in the 1st round, for which she needed a wc this year, and from the match report I read her movement is really poor. It was never that good anyway. If she's happy carrying on like this, fine. But if not, then give up at least for a for a while and think about alternatives – there are some. Recently saw a piece about young players who won the junior title at W'don – where are they now ? I was surprised to see so many who have made no impact at all in the pro ranks. Laura was one of them.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 9:42 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
She is possibly the slowest pro player I ever saw – must improve her speed and footwork. Her talents above the knees are excellent.
Hartt · July 3, 2017 at 10:03 am
Hartt writes:
A commentator said Nick has retired from 5 matches in his career so far. That is a lot for a young player and sends serious signals about his injury problems. For all his obvious talent I am not holding my breath for great things from Nick. Between his mental/emotional fragility and his frequent injuries, I think he will have a tough time living up to that talent.
Chazz · July 3, 2017 at 10:06 am
Chazz writes:
Kyrgios – what a waste. You can't go into major tournaments half-a$$ed. He should have taken a significant time off when these problems started happening so he could get it fixed. This is the 5th tournament in a row he has had to quit in some way.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 10:09 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
The Kyrgios ship is sinking and it's sinking fast. Dan you could have beaten Nick today as he was barely moving for anything. Ryan Bomber Balon would have beaten him too.
Carol · July 3, 2017 at 10:38 am
What a shame, I was waiting for his 36 aces but this time against any player not named Nadal. But I see I was right saying he is not going to be able to repeat that feat not just now but not even in the future
Chazz · July 3, 2017 at 10:47 am
Chazz writes:
It really is a shame. If you saw his level of play at Indian Wells and Miami, where he beat Djokovic, A. Zverev (2x), Goffin, and played 3 tiebreakers against Federer in a loss, he looked like a future slam winner and showed more athleticism than you'll see anywhere on tour.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 11:42 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Chazz; And now he looks like Tomic after an all nighter at the pub with five girlfriends. A shell of a shell of his once great self.
Dan Markowitz · July 3, 2017 at 11:47 am
Dan Markowitz writes:
Very disappointing especially after Indy Wells and Miami. Look, can't judge him on this. He has to get healthy first. Two quick observations: How can Venus Williams play after killing a man in a car accident so recently? I mean, I know the adage, the show must go on, but I'd think after such a horrific incident–whether she's guilty or not–she wouldn't play Wimbledon. Second, the umpire has to call time violations on Nadal. It's bordering on ridiculous. In the second game of the match, he made the ball kid give him four balls before he hit serve.
Murat Baslamisli · July 3, 2017 at 11:49 am
Injuries aside, I don't believe Nick gets it…yet. The work ethic, the dedication…I think the people he will surround himself with from this point on will have a huge effect on if he will ever get it or not. I just hope that when it finally clicks, he is not 35.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 11:58 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
The first time I interviewed Nick in Sarasota three years ago he was a bit cocky but nice. I could sense he had an aura of invincibility and almost arrogance, it's interesting that Nick gave me the same vibe that Usain Bolt did in New York the day before he set his first 100m world record at Randalls Island. As if they both knew they were young and on the verge of breaking out in a big way. Nice pleasant but also so driven and so sure of themselves, Like they both had a wall up when I first approached but then they seemed to sense I was ok legit and proceeded with the spontaneous interviews. It was eerie how similar of a vibe I got from both Nick and Bolt. The big difference is Bolt went on to totally dominate his sport while Nick has only shown spurts of greatness. Is Nick capable of Usain Bolting tennis? Yes he is. Will he? We have to keep waiting to see if he Bolts tennis or Marcus Duprees it all away.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Murat; I know Nick works hard and trains like a beast. Beach sprinting, drilling, all that. His agent John Morris is a great guy, level headed intelligent good friendly nice engaging Brit. I think Nick has the right support team and he has Hewitt in his corner. But he's a rebel at heart and he likes to do it his way, not be a darn puppet. Andy Murray is also a close friend of Nick's and is in his corner too. Kyrgios is the most intriguing character in tennis today.
Carol · July 3, 2017 at 12:02 pm
But he didn't, he just was playing videos games in his Hotel room
Murat Baslamisli · July 3, 2017 at 12:19 pm
That is good to hear that he has good people around him. But if you are not listening to them and taking it all in, what is the point? Sometimes it becomes necessary to save someone from themselves. I would really like to know what he means by "doing it his way". I am a bit of an individual myself and like things done my way. But I have a business plan. I don't know the guy, I don't know where he is coming from. I would like to know how he is planning his career. Where he sees himself in a couple of years and how he is planning to get there? All that stuff.
Individuality is a beautiful thing but sometimes you do not have to reinvent the wheel. People have done it. Study them, get inspired, no?
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 1:01 pm
catherine writes:
Dan – re Venus I don't believe she has been charged in connection with that accident, I'm not sure exactly why if she was 'at fault'. So she probably saw no reason to pull out of W'don. Maybe Serena encouraged her to come. But I agree with you it seems a bit strange. One thing – I bet Venus doesn't turn up for post match press conferences – she'll stay away and pay the fine as she's done in the past. Scoop – doesn't matter how much training Nick does if he has an injury. He's got to take time for that to heal properly.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 1:05 pm
catherine writes:
Apparently Venus burst into tears at her press conference (she did go) when she was questioned about the accident. But she couldn't really have expected reporters not to mention it.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Venus could face a lawsuit for vehicular manslaughter I would guess but a lawyer here like jg would know better. According to the police report Venus was deemed the cause of the fatal accident, That's a lot of mental anguish to have to deal with killing a life and possibly losing a fortune and perhaps jail? Great win for Venus under these circumstances.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 2:27 pm
catherine writes:
Kerber opens tomorrow v Irina Falconi. (Just pretend you're at home on the practice court Angie)
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Entered Wimbledon hurt, flopped. His love hate relationship with the sport is decking him.
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Wawrinka, ousted already?
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Giorgi over Cornet in 3. That must've been an interesting one. I like Halep's win also over Erakovic.
Murat Baslamisli · July 3, 2017 at 3:29 pm
Isn't the usual way not to leave town while an investigation is going on, let alone the continent?
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Kyrgios and writing, speaking of prose there's a very good piece on Kyrgios up on the website newyorker.com . Great sports writers have written for the new yorker magazine and this is a fine job. It's essentially about the riddle that is Kyrgios, how some of his peers will likely win a slam before he will or ever will (I think he will, but it's shaping up to be one of those late career miracle runs as of now! Kyrgios and Philipoussis seem like brother from another you get the idea).
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 3:56 pm
catherine writes:
Clearly Venus was given permission to leave the US since she was not charged re the accident although she is being sued I believe. Don't know the legal ins and outs.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Wawrinka with new co-coach Annacone crash out. Annacone's hit to conservative targets advice did not work. Kozlov just beat Hugues Herbert two weeks ago.
El Dude · July 3, 2017 at 6:26 pm
I'm seeing parallels with Nick and Dimitrov, another hugely talented and under-performing player. I know they are very different personalities, but both seem to lack a psychological ingredient necessary to excel. For Nick it seems to be humility and an excess of egotistical entitlement, for Grigor it seems to be a lack of fire and passion. Both meet in (presumably) not wanting to work hard enough to take their games up a notch.
But even their careers have similar trajectories, although Grigor a bit later than Nick. Grigor was slow to rise, with year-end rankings from 2008-14 of 493, 288, 106, 76, 48, 23, 11. Most elites see those last five years compounded into two or three; in other words, most elites go from around #100 (Grigor's 2010) to around #10 (Grigor's 2014) in half the time Grigor did. But he did seem to arrive in 2014, but then fell off and wandered aimlessly for a couple years, before rising again in late 2016 and seemingly breaking through (again) at the AO in that epic match vs. Rafa. But Grigor has disappointed since, and clearly hasn't turned a corner in terms of focus.
As for Nick, he gained national attention in 2014 when he beat Rafa in the 4th round of Wimbledon as a 19-year old. He followed up with a QF appearance at the 2015 AO, but hasn't been to a QF since and actually has worse results in all three Slams so far this year.
I think both will win big titles at some point, although think it very unlikely Grigor ever wins a Slam. A Masters…maybe. But he's already 26, so no longer young. Still, I could see Grigor hanging out in the #6-15 range for the next few years, and maybe sneaking in a Masters or two.
As for Nick, he is still just 22. But the question is, when is he going to realize he needs to work hard to be great? Maybe 2017 is the wake-up call he so clearly needs. If that's the case, he could be very, very dangerous in 2018. He has the game, I think, to war with Alex Zverev as the top player in the next few years. But I don't see a lot of love for tennis (didn't he say he preferred playing basketball?). I think Nick's window on becoming an all-time greaet (6+ Slam winner) is closed to only a crack, but so was Stan Wawrinka's chances of winning a Slam at age 28…and then he won three. As scoop says, Nick's possible futures run the gamut. He could be Mark Philippoussis, or he could be an even better version of Stan, blooming in his mid-20s and winning four or five Slams. He'll be fun to watch.
Duke Carnoustie · July 3, 2017 at 7:26 pm
Duke Carnoustie writes:
So many guys lose round one of a major, I won't kill Kyrgios. Obviously he's not healthy and motivated. HE was early in the year. I mean Wawrinka lost again in round one but we'll excuse it since he has won three majors. Tomic is in even worse shape that Kyrgios. He was once top-20. A lot of players do even worse like Federer nemesis Julian Jeanpierre. Let's see if Kyrgios gets his act together for the U.S. season – he loves playing here to visit his NBA buddies! I watched D-Young take out Istomin. Donald is playing well and has a chance to be seeded at the U.S. Open but he won't sniff a set against Nadal.
Hartt · July 3, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Hartt writes:
Am not sure who mentioned the New Yorker article on Nick Kyrgios that is now online. It is "Nick Kyrgios, the Reluctant Rising Star of Tennis," by Louisa Thomas and is well worth a read. Nick has said this many times, but I think it is a key to why he does not have better results: "I don't think I want it enough." That is not saying he hates tennis but, for him, the drawbacks do not outweigh the positives. He does not want to put in the incredible amount of hard work that guys like Murray, Federer, Nadal do because they want tennis success desperately. He dislikes the travel, the repetition of practices and of the tennis life. He gets homesick, misses his family, his girlfriend, his friends, his dogs. He would prefer to play a team sport, one reason he enjoys Davis Cup, with its comradeship. And with his current injury problem, the fact that his coach hasn't been able to persuade Nick to take on a fitness trainer is telling. In the end, it is up to Nick to decide if he wants to maximize his great talent, but at present it looks like the answer is no. I am not going to fret about that, there are plenty of other young players to enjoy watching as their careers unfold.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Schiavone is super fit (saw her training videos) and she could be a threat to go deep. Solid win today for Francesca. Bemelmans beats Haas in four and this is a rare GS win for the 29 yr old Belgian lefty who hasn't done anything in a major since two years ago (3R at US Open). Dr Ivo Tiebreakovic lost in five to Bedene 76 67 76 67 68. And all the breakers were close duels 75 57 86 types. Steve Johnson and Querrey through. Pretty good day for US men and women. Young takes out Istomin which is a nice win as we all remember what Istomin did in Austalia. I think DY is about ready to seize his career high ranking this summer.
Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
El Dude; Dimitrov and Kyrgios could not be more opposite. I've never seen Super G tank or play show off tennis. And he's very friendly with the media and even says thank you sincerely after his press conferences.
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 7:37 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Hartt, the article's take on Kyrgios' fitness really surprised me. He literally doesn't do the small stuff that veterans rarely overlook then finds himself injured. I'll have to read the article again and take more time with it. For anyone else interested in a fine piece of tennis writing I second Hartt's recommendation. See Hartt's entry above.
El Dude · July 3, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Scoop, I realize that and said as much at the start, but I think you missed the point of my post! The similarity is not in the person, but in their career trajectories and degree of disappointment so far. Grigor is four years older, so is less likely to fulfill his potential, but both have experienced similar patterns.
Moxie · July 3, 2017 at 8:03 pm
El Dude said:
↑
I agree with El Dude's post earlier. They may be wildly different personalities, but they are on the same drift as to wasting talent. The window is closing quickly for Dimitrov, but Kyrgios still has time to make much of his gifts. I am unimpressed by Dimitrov's gentlemanliness, or whatever, if he's unable to summon the fire in the belly. And I'm not fussed about Kyrgios' antics, if he can somehow pull his talent and head together at some point. But I'll take Sasha Zverev any day, if they're both going to squander their talents.
Moxie · July 3, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Dan, I realize these threads seem to be a moveable feast, so I'm just going with the random comments. Nadal gets called for time violations all the time. And he's lost first serves for them. What more do you want?
And I think you are awfully judgmental and unfair before time to say that Venus "killed" someone in a car accident and wonder how she can be playing Wimbledon, rather than, what?, sitting at home in a mea culpa puddle? She's seen a lot of tragedy in her life. Often, the safest space for a tennis player is on the court. I'm sure it's not callousness that has her playing, but the need to keep up a normal life while this otherwise tragedy plays itself out in the courts. From what I read, she was driving 5 mph in traffic. Whatever happened that caused the collision, it wasn't drugs or speed or any impairment, by all accounts. It sounds like it was unfortunate. If you saw her press conference today, you could see that she's heartsick. I don't know what more you want.
catherine · July 3, 2017 at 9:03 pm
catherine writes:
Scoop – re Schiavone I've never understood why Francesca hasn't done better on grass – she's got a good serve, can volley, runs well. Maybe early on she just persuaded herself W'don wasn't the place for her. Hope she makes another couple of rounds here.
Andrew Miller · July 3, 2017 at 11:19 pm
Andrew Miller writes:
Bouchard, Robson, former best buds, both lose. Suarez Navarro gets better of a Bouchard that gets worse every year.
catherine · July 4, 2017 at 1:57 am
catherine writes:
Bouchard gets flashbacks at Wimbledon 🙂
Ricardo · July 4, 2017 at 3:09 am
Moxie everyone knows your position regarding Nadal, but people are right to point out that ATP are not enforcing the time violation rules enough….is Nadal called out every 10th time he goes over time or something? lower ranked players can't get away with that, and overall it's unfair to players who abide by the rules.
Your old argument that he always plays 'slow'…..you know that doesn't stand, it's his problem. If rules are made to be broken, or being lenient for certain players, might as well not have those rules and just let them have it whatever. Djoker can then bounce the ball 1000 times until he feels comfy, or the opponent runs out of patience. Most players can only wait so long in their 'ready position', and you can manage to piss them off by making them wait frequently and excessively……there is an impact.
Ricardo · July 4, 2017 at 3:23 am
besides, the police have said that she was at fault which caused the tragedy. Of course common sense dictates that it was not intentional, it still qualifies that she 'killed' someone by accident…..assuming the police report is factual, which is the only thing we can go by anyway. now tell us what it has anything to do with 'she's seen a lot of tragedy in life'…..as if she should be granted some kind of concession? for a start she'd probably not be allowed to go free if it wasn't for her fame and position, after an incident like that.
another thing, her press conference means nothing. heartsick? if she has conscience she'd stay and sort it out before going on tennis vacation, after being involved in something like that. clearly she is still just a self-entitled big mouth who doesn't give a shit about 'strangers'.