8 July 2022

Will there be a street parade if Nick Kyrgios wins Wimbledon?

| Tim Gavel
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Nick Kyrgios at Canberra Tennis Centre

Nick Kyrgios at Canberra Tennis Centre, Lyneham. Photo: Tennis ACT.

With Nick Kyrgios through to the Wimbledon singles final, you can imagine the thoughts of the ACT Government.

In the past, if a Canberra sports team or sportsperson has won a major sports event, the government has presented the keys of the city to the victor.

Our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes have been given street parades. The Raiders, Brumbies and UC Capitals have been similarly lauded.

We have had civic receptions for overseas-based individuals, such as Patty Mills, who have achieved significantly in their chosen sport.

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If Canberra’s-own Nick Kyrgios wins the men’s Wimbledon singles final, it will certainly rank among the greatest achievements of a local sportsperson.

This is an international moment, up there with winning an Olympic gold medal or World title, potentially even bigger, so rare is Australia’s recent success in men’s singles.

No Australian male has won Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. That’s ancient history.

If Kyrgios wins, will the response be similar to how we celebrated Ash Barty winning last year?

Nick Kyrgios with children

Nick Kyrgios with Canberra school children. Photo: File.

Kyrgios, though, is a different beast. His on-court behaviour is questionable, with some viewing it as unsportsmanlike. There’s also his treatment of officials and his behaviour in media conferences. His approach is one that can easily divide opinion. And the division of support appears to be generational, with greater support among younger people.

Young people gravitate toward the chaos, the anarchy and the entertainment value.

Added to the mix is the news that Kyrgios has been summonsed to appear in a Canberra court next month.

In the minds of many, this adds to the narrative, whichever side you take.

It will be fascinating to see how sports officialdom responds if he wins. Tennis in Australia will no doubt be working out how to leverage his success.

Will it lead to more children taking up the sport in a similar response to Barry’s success at Wimbledon and the Australian Open?

The way Canberra, in particular, responds to a potential Kyrgios victory will be as fascinating as the match itself.

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norminngunnawalcountry1:51 pm 09 Jul 22

Djokovic says Kyrgios is “a very complete player”
Djokovic has only faced Kyrgios twice in his career, losing both times to him.

“But I think between us players, we always know how dangerous he is — on grass particularly — because of his game, because of his attitude on the court, being so confident, just going for it, being a very complete player.

“If you see his career, the best tennis he’s played is always against the top guys. That’s why we all respect him, because we know what he can come up with.

Capital Retro11:50 am 09 Jul 22

Another example of how money has ruined sport.

Others would argue, CR, that Kyrigos has increased interest in his sport (particularly from younger people), which I guess is the exact opposite of ruination.

I recall being at Melbourne Park for the Aus Open in 2019 and seeing a very lengthy queue of (predominantly young) people lined up to get into the (then) Melbourne Arena to watch Kyrgios play. Like him or hate him, there’s one undeniable fact about Kyrgios – he draws a crowd – perhaps the wrong crowd according to the tennis traditionalists.

He has behaved no better or worse than many tennis players that are considered to be “great”, both historical and contemporary, and that includes those that are now saying that they are disgusted by Nicks behavior. Have folk forgotten that tennis is as much a mind game and entertainment as a sporting event? And what of the offences that were perpetrated against him to provoke him at a time of great stress?

During longer interviews Nick appears to be a thoughtful young man who is trying to do right by himself his family and his community – I’ve never heard him claim to be perfect, and he is not afraid to call a spade a shovel, whatever the personal consequences. If he wins Wimbledon then it will be against considerable odds and in no small part due to innate talent, discipline, commitment and hard work over a prolonged period. If that’s not deserving of admiration and celebration then I don’t know what is.

Oh Tim Gavel I expected better than this from you. Nick hasn’t even been charged with anything and already the media and public are going after him. Why don’t you mention all of the good work that Nick Kyrgios does for charity? What about his support for disadvantaged children through his NIK Foundation. Yes Nik’s behaviour can sometimes be boorish but he isn’t the first tennis player to act badly on court. Who can forget John McEnroe and Pat Cash. I hope our Nik wins the men’s singles finals. If he does win, why shouldn’t we celebrate with a big parade down Northbourne Avenue. I hope Andrew Barr is there supporting him too. I’ll certainly be there with my big hat cheering Nik and his beautiful big smile!!!

He might win as a player but he loses as a decent human being.

Capital Retro1:39 pm 08 Jul 22

If there are stocks and plenty of rotten fruit to throw in the chosen street I would be happy to participate.

Seriously who cares ? I dont.
Has consistently behaved dreadfully on & off the court.

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