The pleasure and pain of Nick Kyrgios is a story that continues to make all the wrong headlines. Photo: Twitter.
Canberra tennis player Nick Kyrgios is once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Yet it will no doubt register as a mere blip on his radar.
The 24-year-old has been fined a record sum of $US113,000 ($A167,000) by the ATP for his latest tantrum. The fines include five charges of unsportsmanlike conduct totalling $US85,000, $US20,000 for verbal abuse, $US5000 for an audible obscenity and $US3000 for leaving the court.
He also lost his round two match against Russian Karen Khachanov at the Cincinnati Masters.
Now we’ve got the facts out of the way, let’s look into the wound, one that gets deeper each time we probe.
Nick Kyrgios is indeed a curious character and one we have a love/hate relationship with. We would love to see him create headlines for just winning. I definitely cheered his incredible fight and spirit when he upset then world number one Rafael Nadal in the 2014 Wimbledon quarter-final. I thought, ‘here’s a guy with a big attitude and an equally big serve to back it up’.
Kyrgios also has one of the best win/loss ratios against any top ten ATP player on the tour and is only the third player, after Dominik Hrbaty and fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt, to have beaten Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic in their first meetings.
Two weeks ago, Kyrgios won his second title of the year over Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Washington Open. Nick called it one of the best weeks of his life from a tennis perspective.
He mixes shots now dubbed the ‘tweener’ (a shot hit from between the legs) with underarm serves, which doesn’t even deserve a pet name.
This tweet says it all.
I am personally not a fan of his childish attitude and his association with the term ‘tanking’.
For his similar lack of effort in the Cincinnati Masters, Kyrgios received the heaviest fine ever served up by the ATP, yet it is still akin to a slap on the wrist. He has earned $1.1 million so far this year, and the fine is a mere drop volley in comparison.
When we look at childish behaviour in society, we always cast the first stone at the parents. Perhaps, the ATP has to take a more hard-line approach, rather than just being a big brother.
Let’s also consider the behaviour of fellow players Ash Barty and Serena Williams, who definitely have the emotional maturity to accept their losses. They have both been ranked as the number one player this year.
While Williams has also made headlines for her tantrums, her determination to be the best brings justifiable amounts of admiration. Sure Nick Kyrgios may be working just as hard and wants to be the best he possibly can be, but I worry that Kyrgios will never be crowned a king because of his lack of emotional maturity. That underarm serve clearly falls short of the mark.
When our favourite football team loses, we, unfortunately, descend into taking aim at umpiring decisions. When Kyrgios took aim at Irish umpire Fergus Murphy this week, it had a similar effect.
Kyrgios obsessed with Murphy’s monitoring of the shot clock and simply got out of time with the match.
Kyrgios called Murphy a “disgrace” and the “worst ref in the world”, and other touts not worth giving space to here.
He even called the Irishman a “potato”. It would be laughable if it wasn’t such a disgrace.
Am I not the only one who would love to see this obviously talented individual making headlines for all the right reasons? Perhaps he should give up the day job and pursue a career as a comedian.
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I wish some-one would find out what is wrong with this poor boy!
Maybe if his manager just put tape over Nicks mouth before each match. Simple but effective! No $300 per hour Shrinks for our Nick!
Trev Astle Maybe his mum could have issued some good old fashioned discipline when he was a child (measured by age in years, not behaviour)
Nick Kygrios has ADHD.
He might at times be medicated for it, but can’t be whilst he is playing. Ritalin and other medications are banned during competition sports.
I would like him to simply disappear.
His frequent use of the F word certainly qualifies him to become a comedian.
He's an unstable spoilt brat ask his dad?
I love tennis, and Ash Barty, dislike Nick’s behaviour, but wonder about his mental health. So much talent please don’t waste it
Stop making him news....ignore him!!!
Wish people got as upset about Alan Jones as they do Nick....
I do and always have. Ban them both ! haha
Funny in this day and age of every second person having anxiety, depression or mental health issues that not too many people are willing to cut this young man some slack. It’s all too simple to say, ‘what a brat’. My feeling is, there’s more to this story and to Nick than meets the eye. He genuinely loves doubles and team events. So what is that, people? He cares for young people, so what is that? It’s too easy for people to cast stones and spew simplistic dribble by contrasting him to better behaved players. Everybody has challenges, and we deal with them in different ways. I hope Nick finds some inner peace and whether or not he plays tennis I don’t care. But when he does, I’ll stand by him and am proud that he represents Australia. We are a diverse and forgiving nation, after all, aren’t we?
Harper Pirsig Unfortunately, as shown by the Adam Goodes story, we most definitely aren’t. We need to look deep into our core values and admit and expel the hatred.
Harper Pirsig. first, Kygrios does not represent Australia - he represents himself.
Forgiveness comes when someone apologies and tries to do better. we wait.
Margaret Freemantle sanctimony must look good from where you sit. On fact, you are wrong. When he plays Davis Cup or Hopman Cup he is representing Australia. And he clearly enjoys those occasions. Who are you to declare he is not playing for Australia at these times? It must be nice to be perfect and have led a life of no regret or mistakes!
Harper Pirsig you are being silly. Of course I have made mistakes and have regrets. I think Kygrios needs help. His behaviour is not 'normal'. Surely you can see his episodes are getting worse and that you can't abuse umpires whenever you feel like it and smash property.
As for representing Australia, I am not sure how it works on all occasions - I know in some situations, Tennis Australia has no authority over him and that he nominates as an individual. The discussion is about Kygrios, not me. let's hope he gets help so that he gets some joy and we get to see truly professional tennis players.
Nah, he’s a total douchebag.
Not worth writing about.
As you can see up and down in these comments, NOBODY CARES ABOUT HIM. And I'm sure if you did a poll of all Canberrans, I'd dare to bet that 90% of us want to disown him from Canberra. The other 10% are his groupies that directly benefit from supporting him
He's a flog full stop. 😡
Boycott Nike might assist this tool to realise nobody is impressed
It’s time for Kyrgios to be banned from playing tennis.
He Has no self respect or respect for anybody else, no sportsmanship, and gives Australian tennis a bad name.
This last display of Kyrgios disgusting behaviour really sums it up .....he is not worthy of representing Australia.
He is from Australia but he doesn't represent Australia. Everyone plays for themselves on the circuit.
Why make excuses for bad behavior......?
Gee I like Ash Barty
They're both really doing wonders for the women's game.
Great article Michael.
Nothing curious about this case.
Please don't waste space on this!