Nick Kyrgios’ career is at the crossroads

Eighteen months ago, well before he became tennis’ most reviled player, Nick Kyrgios was a little known 18-year-old basking in his first foray in the public spotlight. Kyrgios had reached the second round of his inaugural Australian Open, his home event. Just one victory may have seemed fairly innocuous, but Kyrgios excited. For an Australian public which had excruciatingly endured watching prolonged tennis banality, Kyrgios’ eclectic talents and showmanship dazzled.

It was evident he wasn’t destined to be merely a flash in the pan. Kyrgios’ sheer athleticism was startling. His audaciousness was inspiring. His antics, so far removed from the usual sedateness of tennis protocol, was refreshing. He had swagger and his charisma was palpable.

More to the point, it had been an eternity since any Australian player could conjure mesmerising shots, like this stunner against Benoit Paire during his second round loss in the Australian Open.

Kyrgios was precocious, energetic and his notable talent seemed boundless. His emergence was the tonic an Australian public desperately craved. He also resonated beyond Australia, and appealed to those yearning for a youngster to rise and challenge the indefatigable “Big Four” of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, who seemingly forever had been hoarding majors amongst themselves.

I interviewed Kyrgios, via email, for an Australian sports publication in the aftermath of his success in Melbourne. As mentioned, despite his Australian Open exploits, he was still barely known outside of tennis diehards and thus it was easy to gain access to him. He replied my questions remarkably quickly, within 48 hours. It was obvious he was craving media attention, as little had been written about him in-depth previously.

Clearly, he wasn’t yet media savvy. Still, having interviewed numerous athletes from a wide spectrum of sports, who generally respond in the same dull clichéd manner befitting politicians, Kyrgios was refreshingly candid albeit with a tinge of cockiness. Remember, these quotes are from January 2014 when he had won just two grand slam singles matches.

“I have a very clear vision of where I want to be. One day I want to be number one and obviously win a slam/s in the process…..I’ve shown the talent is there, the game is there…..I definitely like entertaining on the court - sport is meant to be entertaining.”

Kyrgios’ brashness is innate. It hasn’t just manifested with the arrival of fame and fortune. His self-confidence is inherent, with a core belief ingrained that he is destined for tennis greatness.

In his response to my questions, he talked openly about his adoration for basketball – a sport he was also highly skilled at growing up. In some ways, he probably somewhat laments the decision to have chosen tennis over basketball. Clearly more influenced by the NBA more than tennis, it is easy to see where Kyrgios mimics much of his flamboyant persona. The NBA is well known for its trash talking from its players; after all, Michael Jordan’s crude tongue is steeped in mystique. NBA fans clearly relish the showy characters whose showmanship is more accepted amid an American sports culture gravitating towards the gaudy.

Thus, Kyrgios is clearly more influenced by LeBron James than Roger Federer. For Kyrgios, it has never been about merely eking victories and moving up the rankings. He wants to impersonate his basketball touchstones. Kyrgios demands attention. He wants to entertain. He hopes to build a personal brand to essentially transcend sports, hence his penchant for using #NKRising in his social media posts.

After a highly promising start to his career, which reached a crescendo when he beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year, things have gone horribly wrong for Kyrgios.

His antics, which initially was seen as amusing, started to grate. Volatile blowups during matches, particularly the chastening ridiculing of officials reminiscent of Lleyton Hewitt during his temperamental worse, affected his image and simply made him look like a spoilt brat; a type of new age John McEnroe but without any silverware to back up his bravado.

Kyrgios was accused of tanking during his loss to Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon recently, which is about the worse accusation one can label at an athlete. There are times on the court when he’s so exasperated that he has the look of wanting to be anywhere other than a tennis court. It is bewildering to see him shockingly spiral, seemingly out of nowhere.

The shift in sentiment, both within Australia and the tennis fraternity, gained momentum liked a tsunami. Australians, and the majority of tennis fans, don’t have much tolerance for those perceived as prima donnas. There is a reason why the understated Federer is so universally revered and remains a crowd favourite wherever he plays.

With his perception transformed into a pantomime villain, Kyrgios started getting, probably unfairly, nitpicked for everything including his hairstyle, eyebrows, bright attire and penchant for wearing big showy headphones.

Kyrgios appeared to accept his standing and seemed to treat it as being a type of anti-hero. He seemed to relish hogging a share of the spotlight even if was for the wrong reasons. He wasn’t particularly contrite over his behaviour or how others perceived him. He even had a healthy section of supporters adamant Kyrgios was making the sport more watchable.

Kyrgios had become compelling viewing, and for him, that’s all that really seemed to matter. He was stubbornly sticking to his guns, for better or worse.

But after his vile snipe at world number five Stan Wawrinka, where he uttered the now infamous “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend, sorry to tell you mate” and “He’s banging an 18-year-old", his reputation is in the sewers and has reached the point of almost being unsalvageable – let alone his friendship with his close mate and Australian Davis Cup teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Kyrgios has been fined £4,700 for the comments. It’s hard to defend Kyrgios’ latest actions. He has muddied the reputation of numerous people, most notably tarnishing the image of Wawrinka’s girlfriend Donna Vekic.

It may have been a flippant comment, which was not meant to cause offence. Kyrgios was well away from Wawrinka when he muttered those unfortunate words. Still, it was remarkably stupid and confirms his immaturity and profound stubbornness to not change his demeanour.

Kyrgios belatedly offered an apology on Facebook but the damage had been done. He was roundly booed during his subsequent match against John Isner.

But there is still hope. After all, he’s only 20 years old. Hewitt, who has matured greatly to become an elder statesman of the sport, has become his temporary coach. Maybe Hewitt can share some words of wisdom. Kyrgios can also take heed of Novak Djokovic, who earlier in his career came across as temperamental and slightly conceited. “There is too much of this chest thumping and roaring when he wins. I would like to see him show a bit more humility, like Nadal and Federer,” said Australian tennis legend Roy Emerson of Djokovic in 2011. Djokovic is not only the world’s best player now, he is universally respected. It’s hard to remember those bad old days.

One would hope Kyrgios matures and gets his head screwed on straight. It would be sad to see a player so talented disintegrate. Kyrgios moves like a gazelle for his size with a healthy combination of speed and power, yet has the footwork of a ballerina. He’s the prototype player who should be at the forefront of a new generation succeeding Federer/Nadal/Djokovic/Murray.

Kyrgios has now reached a tricky juncture of his still tender career. The time is now for Kyrgios to leave his childishness behind, otherwise there may be no salvaging of his tattered reputation.

Sadly, if he doesn’t change, his much-hyped promise will likely remain unfulfilled.

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