Nick Kyrgios nearly beating Federer in Miami was the second most impressive aspect about the tournament aside from Roger’s latest brilliance in his 2017 renaissance. Nick lost to Federer 67 76 67 in an astonishing semifinal but it was his behavior during this match which at times overshadowed the quality of his sensational tennis. From the outset the riled Kyrgios was heard shouting “F*** you!” and “SHUT the F*** Up!” at fans through the match which even provoked the usually cool Mirka Federer to boo Nick. Despite all the anti fan hostility against Nick he still nearly beat Federer and really should have won the match despite all the crowd negativity that he ignited. Nick obviously has the extraordinary talent. He just need to learn how to control his fire and intensity And use it constructively to properly manage the live crowd to his advantage – not the other way around. Provoking and yelling at the fans is a disastrous mistake (ask Martina Hingis regarding her Roland Garros final against Steffi Graf) and it complicates the match dynamic into being Nick Kyrgios against not only Federer (which is a hard enough assignment as it is) but into being Nick Kyrgios against over ten thousand fans who were all pulling for Roger. The will of the crowd is an incredible energy source and it can empower the one athlete and literally destroy the mind of the unfortunate soul on the wrong side. Case in point in boxing both George Foreman and Sonny Liston have hinted (years after their respective careers ended) that they were mentally destroyed when all the boxing fans were cheering emphatically for Muhammad Ali to beat them (I read about this fascinating concept in the autobiography ‘Big George’). Once Nick learns how to control his intensity and manage the fans to HIS side better he will be unstoppable. Federer is playing his absolute career best tennis right now and Nick was toe-to-toe with him despite the full crowd being against him. This was an incredible performance by Nick Kyrgios even in defeat. – Scoop Malinowski
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Hartt · April 3, 2017 at 9:49 am
Your accounts of this match were the only place where I read about Nick yelling at the crowd throughout the match and that goes a long way in explaining why the spectators were so incredibly hostile to him. You are right, Nick needs to manage that better in the future.
Although I am a Sascha Zverev fan rather than a Nick fan it was encouraging to hear Nick say he is competing for every point. That was the main thing I disliked about him, the lack of effort in some matches. If he can reign in his negative behaviour he will gain a lot more fans because his tennis is so spectacular. I think the big concern for Kyrgios is avoiding injury. We have seen all too often the terrible effect injuries can have on a young player’s career.
Scoop Malinowski · April 3, 2017 at 9:53 am
Hartt: It’s true – I did not notice it from the press box view which is quite distant from the court about 25 rows up – But a source who was in the camera pit courtside told me about it after the match and she was very very offended and disturbed by Nick’s behavior during the match – She could not believe it – She said the last time she witnessed behavior this bad was seeing a sixteen year old Andy Roddick verbally abuse a linesperson at Continental Cup junior tourney in Florida many years ago – Nick has to clean up his act and learn to control his volcanic intensity –
Chazz · April 3, 2017 at 10:07 am
On tv you could clearly decipher what he was saying, and it happened often. Disappointing, because conversely he sometimes is such a positive player feeding off the crowd and making ridiculous shots. It was almost like he wanted to be the villain. He could have won over some of the crowd with the positivity he shows when interacting with his tour friends like Zverev and Sock.
Chazz · April 3, 2017 at 10:12 am
I have to admit, one reason I want Kyrgios to keep winning is he adds entertainment and you never know what’s going to happen when he plays.
Chazz · April 3, 2017 at 10:30 am
On an unrelated note, in the official ATP top 100 rankings released today, 3 Americans are the biggest movers since the last rankings. Donaldson up 20 to #75, Tiafoe up 12 to #89 and Escobedo up 13 to #95.
Hartt · April 3, 2017 at 10:50 am
And Jack Sock is No. 15, just about 200 points behind Goffin. He is getting closer to that No. 10 spot and is actually ahead of Kyrgios, who is at No. 16.
Dan Markowitz · April 3, 2017 at 11:04 am
Hartt,
How can you be a Zverev fan over Kyrgios? Nick plays so much more of a slashing, attacking, exciting style compared to Zverev who’s just another rather dull (in my eyes) basic two-hander who wants to suffocate you from the backcourt. I applaud Zverev for getting more mature and not being such a crybaby like he was when he was even younger, but he’s not the creative sort in his game or personality.
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 11:21 am
Ain’t easy playing a legend no one wants to see lose. Another reason the new guard needs to suck up to then and say things like Federer is amazing blah blah while upping their games to dismantle them. To overthrow the old guard the new guard needs to shut up and keep at it.
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 11:23 am
And who knows, maybe by shutting up and keeping at it they’ll pick up some new fans on the way and it will be a less one sided crowd next time. Or somewhat less one sided. Or hire their own J Block. Etc.
Scoop malinowski · April 3, 2017 at 11:24 am
Another of the amazing aspects of Kyrgios is not only how many tweener shots he tries all over the court is that always makes the shot! He never misses. Like the one vs Fed was crazy. Coming forward and hitting a tweener winner crosscourt against a dumbfounded Fed who surely had never seen that shot before. I think its incredible that Nick never misses his tweeners eventhough the degree of difficulty on most of them is very very high. That kind of courage on court is just part of why he is such an intriguing force.
Scoop malinowski · April 3, 2017 at 11:26 am
Chazz; good points and observations reminding us that Nick is the biggest enigma in tennis today. By far.
Scoop malinowski · April 3, 2017 at 11:30 am
Dan; are you saying Zverevs conservative unflashy tactically soynd playing style is Agassi like?
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Kyrgios should look at what Nadal, Djoko did to dethrone each other. Just get better. Use that pissed off side of himself to get better. He was a whisker from winning. I don’t think Kyrgios is like Berdych or other players that most of the top four own. The guy is a beast. He’s going to be formidable.
Hartt · April 3, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Dan, for me there are several aspects about being a fan of a particular player. One is when I first saw them play. I first saw Sascha Zverev when as a 17-year-old kid he made the SFs at the German Open in 2014, seeming to come out of nowhere. Only David Ferrer managed to stop him. He is not flashy the way Nick is but I certainly don’t find him dull. He is still very young, will turn 20 later this month. With his ambition, talent and excellent work ethic I think he will continue to improve at a fast rate.
The player’s personality is another factor. Just as I am a Fed fan rather than a Rafa fan (although of course can appreciate what a fabulous player Rafa is) Sascha simply appeals to me more. I am still trying to get over Nick tanking matches, but if he continues to give his best in every match then I will change my mind about that.
I think these 2 young guns will have a terrific rivalry and it will be good for tennis if each has his fans.
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 3:06 pm
For me one has to Hewitt or Safin it soon. They should try to rip the slams away from the big four. I love the big four, but the rest of the tour beyond Wawrinka has settled for crumbs. These guys should take advantage of their world class knowledge and talent and rip the slams away. Hunt the big four, big five into retirement. They should take up the challenge.
scoopmalinowski · April 3, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Andrew, the big four or five have gigantic Xs on their backs, chests, foreheads and hindquarters. But despite this and the fact everyone plays their best tennis against the fab five, they still get it done. Isner pointed out this amazing reality when we talked about Facing Murray last week.
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Scoop, today’s big five used to be a big one. Federer only. Then it grew to a big two – Federer and Nadal, with Nadal beating Federer. Then a big three, with Djokovic. Then a big four with Murray. Finally a big five with Wawrinka.
Either someone joins them and there’s a big six, or the big five begin a Wilander like collapse and shrink to big four, big three etc.
These guys scaled the heights by beating other top dogs. So there are no shortcuts to glory: Either they get better and begin ripping away slams from the current big five, or they become the second coming of Berdych, like Thiem has.
They cant do the Thiem and Raonic model, where you improve and hopefully you’re ready to win a slam and fall short.
They have to prepare to win slams today. Win them in dubs then singles. Knock out the champs. Make them pay for their mistakes. Study their games. Pull a Connors Borg with Connors chasing Borg to the ends of the earth.
Nadal broke the mold by breaking it. And as much as I love the big four and big five and what they’ve done for the sport, I’d get all these young guys in a room with Lloyd Carroll telling them they are underperformers.
I know it’s cruel. But I have the suspicion coaches coddle these guys and stroke the ego and tell them you’re great great shot.
Well, in that space of time Federer just improved his backhand ten percent while everyone else sits around. Someone’s got to tell them to quit messing around! This one day ill win the big one is a surefire method to keep the big four happy.
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 7:25 pm
I remember this from high school tennis. There was a team of returning seniors. And this sophomore came along. Everyone told him hey you can play number seven because we already have so and so who’s a junior. Several top seniors with excellent records.
What did this guy do? He was number one within seven months, went down as one of the best players in school history. He respected the elder but still considered them “just another opponent” when they played.
Same thing for Kyrgios, Zverev. Best thing is their win loss record versus the top guys is still in low single digits. They should go out everytime to execute their strategy and knock the top guys out of tournaments as often as possible.
Scoop Malinowski · April 3, 2017 at 7:32 pm
Andrew; Kyrgios has already beaten Fed Rafa and Djokovic twice (but not Andy in two tries) – to do that at such a young age is a very special distinction that is nearly impossible –
Andrew Miller · April 3, 2017 at 9:13 pm
Sampras KO’d Mac at the usoprn in 1990 on his way to the title, as well as Lendl and even Wilander? Hewitt won the first slam in his first final, KO’d Sampras, which was the beginning of the end for our American hero for his golden career.
I’m sorry to say that these young guys will have to rip away big titles, like Monte Carlo, Rome, and more. The big four stay in tact but the big four are showing a lot of vulnerability, and they’ll tell you themselves that none of their success was ever as easy as it looked.
Nows a good time for the new guard to take over. They don’t have to follow the unsuccessful examples of their slightly older rivals. Or take comfort in how young they are and how they will get there. Blah. They will have to get in the slam swing now and go for it.
Wawrinka broke apart the big four in a lot of ways, mostly by specializing in beating Djokovic.
Again as much as I’m one for nostalgia, it’s time for the young guys to win now and win big. They have the talent if not the crowd support.
catherine bell · April 4, 2017 at 3:00 am
Off topic fashion note: adidas has unveiled its green theme for Roland Garros. Someone should have advised the apparel department that green is a difficult colour fashion-wise, it doesn’t suit many people, especially blue-eyed blondes – step forward adidas tennis No 1 Angelique Kerber.
However, Angie doesn’t normally hang around very long at RG so maybe adidas can run up something in a more flattering colour for later 🙂
catherine bell · April 4, 2017 at 6:30 am
Bouchard out again 1st round (Charleston) – what’s happened to her ?
catherine bell · April 4, 2017 at 7:33 am
No not Charleston, Monterrey, where really that trophy has to be Angie’s already.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 8:36 am
The under 22 brigade has the belief when they lock horns with the Big Five but reality quickly sets in – The Fantastic Five are like Tony Montanas protecting their Million dollar $upplies – The Big Five are built for and obsessed with winning and they can’t get enough of it – winning tennis tourneys is the ULTIMATE HIGH for a tennis player and these guys are addicted – the younger players trying to take down Tony Montana is a very very challenging task 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 8:38 am
Catherine: Last year’s adidas zebra look at Roland Garros was a sales disaster in USA as I never saw anyone wear any of it on public courts or private club courts – I haven’t seen this new adidas green yet but I do like green and hopefully it works –
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 8:38 am
Bouchard is officially off the rails – Needs to hire Spadea as coach 🙂
Andrew Miller · April 4, 2017 at 8:56 am
Bouchard could join Sveta Kuxnetsova in Spain. Here she’s too caught up in it all. Take a cue from Milos Raonic and camp out in Monte Carlo.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 9:34 am
Four 1R losses in a row with her talent and power is time to pull the alarm!
catherine bell · April 4, 2017 at 9:50 am
Scoop-
The adidas stuff isn’t too bad really, an improvement on last year’s effort. And green is fashionable this season – I just don’t like any shades of green, have never been able to wear them.
Wonder if there’s a line around the block already of coaches wanting to sign up with Bouchard. Some OCC needed perhaps 🙂
Andrew Miller · April 4, 2017 at 9:54 am
WTA very hot and cold this year. Parity is winning.
Hartt · April 4, 2017 at 9:55 am
Depending on the shade green could be a nice contrast to the red clay. And agree, anything will be better than the zebra look.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 9:55 am
Catherine: If Roger can wear pink you can wear green 🙂
Hartt · April 4, 2017 at 11:16 am
Just watched the Charleston match between Kasatkina and Kovinic. It reminded me of why I enjoy watching Daria, she is not allergic to the net the way so many WTA players are. She completely dominated in this match, winning 6-1, 6-2 in under 1 hour.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Charleston looks like a wonderful event. The green courts and the huge stadium in such a quiet peaceful natural setting. Gotta get to this tournament someday. Kasatkina has been quiet lately as has Gavrilova. Good win by Maria Sakkari over Lauren Davis.
catherine bell · April 4, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Scoop-
Used to be on Hilton Head I think ? I went there a few times when it was the Family Circle. That was nice too.
Andrew Miller · April 4, 2017 at 12:58 pm
Like Gavrilova, believe she’s heir apparent to Aussie legacy of Molik and Stosur, complete players with some big time results.
Hartt · April 4, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Kasatkina has had a slow start to the season and his slipped out of the top 40. The one bright spot perhaps is that she won over Kerber twice this season, in Sydney and Doha.
Thomas Tung · April 4, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Catherine — I remember that it used to be called the Family Circle Magazine Cup. One tidbit that still sticks out to me was an advertisement in the (now) defunct Tennis Match magazine (sometime in 1997), featuring Amanda Coetzer in a leopard print hooded dress and a green couch, in the middle of what looked like palmetto trees and bushes. It was entitled “The Wild Thrill of Women’s Tennis”, with the subtitle of “Amanda Coetzer with the Green Couch”. It’s the kind of tennis advert that is practically never seen nowadays; I suppose that’s why it stands out in my memory.
catherine bell · April 5, 2017 at 2:07 am
‘The Wild Thrill of Women’s Tennis’ ?
I can understand why that kind of ad is rarely seen these days 🙂
Wouldn’t get past the WTA’s censorship committee I don’t think (I bet they have one).
When did everything start to get so dull ?
catherine bell · April 5, 2017 at 5:43 am
And who would we put on the green couch these days ?
Hartt · April 5, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Have been looking for a couple young WTA players to keep track of in the same way I do with some ATP youngsters. Have decided the 19-year-old Russian player, Daria Kasatkina, will be one. Have been paying attention to her for a couple of years now. At 5’7″ and 137 lbs she is not big enough for Big Babe tennis so has to rely on other skills.
Just saw her Charleston match against Monica Puig. Dasha2 as some of us call her (Daria Gavrilova is Dasha1), won the match 6-0, 6-7, 6-2. What I liked about how she handled this match was that when Puig started to turn things around Dasha did not panic. Although this was 1 time I thought OCC might actually have been useful. Her coach reminded her that everything began with the feet. And indeed, one of Dasha’s strengths was her speed around the court.
She has 7 ITF titles, 6 of those are on clay. She reached the QFs of Charleston last year. It looks like she is heading into the best part of her season.
catherine bell · April 5, 2017 at 1:34 pm
Why does Dasha need a coach on court to tell her to move her feet ?
Why don’t these players write little notes to themselves and consult those ? It’s not illegal and would fix some things in the mind.
Too much passivity everywhere in the women’s game.
Andrew Miller · April 5, 2017 at 2:29 pm
The OCC farse: Btts in seats+glued to TVs. Admit it…we loved McEnroe because he abused everyone, and seeing these powerful women tear their coaches apart is entertaining.
In fact I cant stand it. Makes me bristle just as much as players yelling at their entourages for ambiguous reasons. The most amazing part to me, beyond the humiliation and the weird scenes – the groveling, the unresponsive elite players – is that as far as i can tell the advice stinks. Perhaps it doesn’t – but the worst clips show some horrendous coaching – not only players that could care less, but advice that’s apparently not worth what it costs.
I’ve heard of good coaching and seen players take off when they add the right coach to their staff. Generally it’s a player that is already responsive to good advice or willing to put in the work. Like Mueller. Kerber. Even the Williams know to bring in a phalanx of strong hitting partners and coaches.
But if that’s what on court coaching is, more spectacle than substance, how far away are we from wwf style tennis, or players who go after each other on court, to get notoriety rather than accolades? Admittedly we’re far away, and the knockout aspect of tennis weeds out less serious competitors.
Even spotshot or whatever it’s called these days has a purpose that helps the players, whether to cool then off or settle a real line call dispute while not taking away from the sport.
But occ…a step backwards. It’s stripped away some of the concealer so to speak, so we see the sport’s warts. But for me they are unnecessary and like Catherine says, actually makes fans resent it, not enjoy it. Why do I want to see a top player who goes after their coach mercilessly? Or a grown man beg their player to follow a decent strategy knowing what he’s saying isn’t going through now and probably not ever?
Cynical.
Hartt · April 5, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Yes Catherine, agree about the notes. If it is good enough for Andy Murray . . . . When the camera showed what Andy had on his note (even though I think that should have stayed private) have to admit I found it interesting that what he had were pretty obvious things, just to remember them in the heat of battle.
catherine bell · April 6, 2017 at 3:03 am
Of course if players started using notes like that (and why not tattoos ?) there’d be a few coaches out of jobs 🙂
Hartt · April 6, 2017 at 11:27 am
Doubles News: Henri Kontinen is now No. 1 in doubles, supplanting Mahut. There is a nice piece about him on the ATP site. When he was just 21 Henri had multiple knee and wrist surgeries and wondered if he could play again. When he returned to tennis he specialized in doubles. These stories of determination are always inspiring.
Scoop Malinowski · April 6, 2017 at 11:44 am
I got to meet Henri’s dad at US Open three years ago – Henri was playing doubles and I had noticed he was on the verge of becoming a leading player because he had had quite a few close losses in big events to big teams and his dad knew all the matches and other matches that were very close losses and sure enough Henri soon started to win those close matches – Also he was playing mixed that year with Su Wei Hsieh and they had a decent run – His dad had said Henri trained at Img but then relocated to Lauderdale or Boca – He did mention the injuries forced him to concentrate on doubles -Never did I think Henri of Finland would eventually become a world no 1 in doubles – another great story for tennis –