God damn, Australian tennis hasn’t been this enthralling, colourful and easy to sit through for some time. Probably the last time I can recall was Bernard Tomic’s surge at the Australian Open a few years ago. But nothing like this.
Nick Kyrgios has been Australian tennis’ godsend. He has reinvigorated the game, the Australian Open and the style of tennis we play.
The way he plays tennis, the belief he has in himself, his attitude, his flair and on-court style and his demeanour, has all glued us to our screens over the past nine days. With the backing he has had a lot of shade has also been thrown in his direction. It is pathetic and another example of our nation’s favourite pastime – tall poppy syndrome.
Yes, he is abrasive, yes, his language is as colourful as his outfit choices and, yes, his mood swings would put the best of divas to shame. But as Andy Muarry stated in his post-match interview, we’ve just got to sit back and let this fella mature. He is 19 for goodness sakes. When I was that age I wasn’t beating some of the world’s talented tennis players on my home turf. I was a rat bag still trying to find myself, and doing things I cringe about when thinking back.
It isn’t easy being thrown into the spotlight and have every little aspect of your life publicly scrutinised. The kid is just trying to find his feet, to find himself. Yes, he has made mistakes, and he will make a fair few more. But just like those that came before him, such as John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Andy Murray, they were all little hot heads with an abrasive nature, but with time they matured and that aspect of their personality has settled.
But even in saying that, what is so wrong with a person letting out a few expletives when they aren’t happy following a mistake or lack of performance? We all do it, all the time. What’s wrong with someone being confident in their ability or showing off a little with a bit of chunky bling and patterned shaped eyebrows.
All this makes Nick what he is, and with an incredible fighting spirit, creative game, powerful serve and youth he gives us the saint our game has been craving. Enough of the shade, let this kid be. Enough of the racist shade that has been thrown about Nick not being ‘Aussie enough’ and enough of jumping on every little thing this kid does.
Let him be. Let him flourish. Let him conquer.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally clinched his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in…
Alex de Minaur has earned the perfect 25th birthday present, booking a place in the final of the Rotterdam Open with an emphatic revenge…
While watching the recent Australian Tennis Open I became obsessively fixated on the same thought. Why has no one done a television biopic or…
