Master coach Nick Bollettieri predicts Nick Kyrgios will be among the best in the tennis world, but how far he goes will depend on “what’s between his ears”.
When Bollettieri speaks, wise men listen.
The 83-year-old American has been instrumental in the great careers of Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Marcelo Rios, Boris Becker, and Kei Nishikori, to name a few.
There’s no doubting Kyrgios’ qualities, it’s how he harnesses those qualities is what Bollettieri sees as the guiding influence.
The way Kyrgios beat Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon last year in a five-set thriller, and two rounds later demolished Rafael Nadal in four sets to reach the quarters, were magnificent examples of what could be in store.
But some danger signs are there.
To the 19-year-old tennis is a toy, he loves playing with it, and even though he boasts a bazooka serve and powerful ground strokes, tennis is a play thing for Kyrgios.
But he says his life and attitude will change when he turns 20 on April 27.
In the meantime, Kyrgios has serious Australian Open business at Hitense Arena against Roger Federer’s shock conqueror Andreas Seppi, but not before 6.15pm.
On paper, Kyrgios has far too much fire-power for the Italian.
After three rounds, Kyrgios is third on the aces ladder with 72, behind John Isner’s 89, and Gilles Muller’s 80. Seppi is nowhere in sight.
Both are tall timbers – Kyrgios 193cms, Seppi 191 – but Kyrgios is a slather and whack attacker, Seppi concentrates more on guiding his returns.
If Kyrgios had an on night, Seppi won’t know what’s hit him.
Bernard Tomic will be third cab off the Hisense Arena rank today, up against a formidable opponent in Czech Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed.
Which Tomic will turn up – the aggro Tomic, or the switched-on controlled Tomic?
If it’s the latter, the 22-year-old is quite capable of an upset.
He’s 10th on the aces ladder after three rounds with 57, Berdych equal 19th with 36.
So Australia’s future is far brighter with Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic showing the way.
As it sits, Tomic is in the top half of the draw,with a win over Berdych likely to set up a meeting with Nadal,if the Spaniard isn’t suffering from a recurrence of his injuries, or illness.
Kyrgios is in the bottom half, with success over Seppi will see Andy Murray waiting, if he can overcome the very promising Grigor Dimitov,
Bring it on.
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