Rather than genuine tanking, Nick Kyrgios’ shall we say ‘unenthusiastic’ attempts to return serve against Richard Gasquet last night strike me as simply the latest entry on what has been a long rap sheet of undisciplined behaviour at Wimbledon.
In the third game of the second set, it’s pretty clear Kyrgios was not putting his usual effort into returning Gasquet’s serves. His returns were shallow efforts, flying low into the net.
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Nick Kyrgios furiously denies tanking allegations
WATCH KYRGIOS’ ACTIONS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE, AND LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION
What’s more telling is the lack of Kyrgios’ characteristic frustration at these mistakes – from watching Kyrgios, you get the feeling that if these were more genuine errors he’d be a bit more reactive to them.
Still, while many people including the commentators were quick to label Kyrgios a tanker, that sort of explanation just doesn’t make sense to me.
He wouldn’t be the first tennis player to lose a game without putting his best foot forward (and wouldn’t be the last either), but to throw what was only the third game of the set after a competitive effort in the first would be a bit bizarre.
If it was late in the set and he was well down, sure, but that early on? It doesn’t make a great deal of sense, strategically speaking.
The much better fitting explanation is really the same one we’ve been look at all tournament long, that while Kyrgios is a supremely talented player, he is still very much undisciplined.
Bouncing his rackets, confronting the fans, and audibly letting off steam during matches – Kyrgios has taken the title of Australia’s tennis bad boy, or is at least fighting tooth and nail with Bernard Tomic for it.
He’s repeatedly come under attack in the media for these actions during the tournament, though I think that most would agree the criticism has been a bit excessive. After all, the world is not exactly full of immaculately mature 20-year-olds.
Really, it shows an insight into the Australian sporting culture – we are very quick to build up, and we are very quick to tear down.
After all, what is Kyrgios’ bad behaviour if not – in part, at least – a reaction to the immense praise he was given by the Australian public when he first burst onto the scene?
I find it ironic, really, that as a group we have raised a teenage athlete to the level of a god, and then we snigger and chide him when he stars to act a little god-like.
We dump people like Kyrgios into that ever-so-broad category of ‘unAustralian’ in their actions, a label which conveniently changes in definition pretty much however you’d like it to.
It leads to farcical things like Dawn Fraser’s comments earlier today that Krygios and Tomic should “go back where their parents came from”.
“If they don’t like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from. We don’t need them here in this country if they act like that.”
Insensitive and frankly idiotic suggestions like this (deport young adults for bad behaviour? really?) just fuel the fire. What does it really mean to be unAustralian though?
You only had to be keeping an eye on social media last night to know. Within the space of a half hour, Kyrgios’ popularity went from its lowest point – his badly dropping the second set – to its highest – his hard-fought victory in the third.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, our desires are pretty simple. We want to see our sportspeople behave well, be humble, sure, sure, but more than that – much more than that – we just want to see them winning.
Kyrgios can kill two birds with one stone here. After all, it seems to be his lack of discipline that holds him back from genuine superstardom more than anything.
Improve the disclipline, start winning – really winning – and the universal love will flow.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
She got banned for 10 years later to reduce to 4 years which prevented her for going for an unprecedented 4 golds in a row in Munich, so I think it may have been a little more then you suggested. She also called Leisel Jones a brat, after the Leisel trained & tried her heart out to win a gold medal in the Athens Olympics. Leisel was favourite & only got bronze & didn't look too happy at the podium. Our Dawn has history.
Nick
Guest
How anybody can suggest that he didn't give up (the very definition of tanking) in that game is beyond me. He 100% threw that game because he was throwing a tantrum. There is absolutely no doubt about that.
Nick
Guest
He ABSOLUTELY tanked that game. Theres next to no doubt about it
Nick
Guest
she didnt steal that flag. An American did an she covered for him. Well documented now
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I would have thought that Kyrgios would be classed as white being Greek. If that's correct how is Frasers comment racist.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Do you include cricket in that
AussieBokkie
Guest
Lots of talent but lots of growing up to do. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Tall poppy syndrome in Australia can be a good, levelling, societal value but this is a clear case of this 'syndrome' being far too extreme. Yes he's a brat but give the kid a break. I'd like to see a more constructive discourse from the media and public that will help the young man to grow and become the star he can be. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
JimmyB
Guest
Did you see it Ryan?
Des
Guest
Most sensible comment I've read all day on the topic. As a Brit I never understand what terms like 'Unaustralian' actually mean; Australia has a largely wonderful people for a wide variety of reasons; there is no such thing as typical Aussie - unless you mean the 1970s Paul Hogan stereotype which doesnt really exist anymore. Australia today is a vibrant multicultural country and its people reflect that. Kyrgios is an arrogant prima donna, but I am sure you have plenty of those across all racial backgrounds; I know Britain is full of them too.They arent Unbritish they are just dicks.
Disappointed.
Guest
The worst thing about Kyrgios is that his behaviour is calculated to distract, intimidate, create a sideshow. It is an ugly way of winning, which he has obviously perfected over many years. To hear men such as Masur humour this behaviour is a sad indictment on tennis culture in this country. I do wonder if anyone has ever bothered to tell Kyrgios to pull his head?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
The 1960s Aussie bogan vs the 2015 one. Dunno who's better, the Anglo Aussie who had no culture nor respect and tried to steal a flag at the emperor's palace or the loud and brash new Aussie. I actually thought Kyrgios had reached a new low but Fraser reminds us of how intellectually limited the generations of the white Australia were/are. So that's a 'deuce ' for me.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Sheek, Dawn said that she stood by what she said, therefor she expressed her self how she wanted to.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Normally agree with you, Sheek, but sorry not this time. You don't clean rubbish with more rubbish. Dawn was totally out of line. Just because racism has always existed & always will be, doesn't make it right. Some people grow old graciously, unfortunately for our Dawn, she is not one of them.
Bondy
Guest
In Football in most parts of the world its not that unusual to accost a ref that's because its expressionism to the crowd and intimidation towards the ref .Where in Australia we're not attuned to expressionism in sports from sports athletes there's no emotion or very little expressionism to sports in Australia which is sad really .
Mango Jack
Guest
Sheek, there's no way she would have said those words if he was a white anglo whose father was English. She's angry at his behavior , fair enough, but uses his racial background to put the boot in. Below the belt in my book. She should have focused on his unacceptable behavior and left it at that.
sheek
Roar Guru
Josh, Racism has always existed & always will, it's in the human DNA. Like greed, for example. It's the political correctness of the times that peeves me off. People have lost the ability to put things in context. Fraser could have expressed herself better, & so could I elsewhere on The Roar. But the gist of the matter remains Kyrgios' behaviour, which is highly self-indulgent & all about me-me-me. If he wants the support of mainstream Australia, then he is going about things entirely the wrong way.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more. Soccer is the only sport that aproaches tennis for ref intimidation. Like the grunting on serve it is designed to distract. If the umpire called fault the first time it had happened then it would have stopped straight away. If this guys behaviour was stepped on at an early stage he would have fallen into line.
Steve
Guest
Tanking or not, there were certain parts of the match where he simply wasn't trying and showed nothing but disrespect for his opponent and the game and the fans there watching. Just another Gen Y upstart who needs a serious attitude readjustment.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Where did Nick say that he did not appreciate living in Australia? Where did he also say that he was not proud of representing Australia? Dawn jumped the gun and said that he should go back to where his parents came from just because of his attitude on the court. Granted i dont think his attitude is right, it doesnt mean i have the right to tell him to "go back to where his parents came from". If you dont see the issue in that then I cant help you.
Josh
Expert
To be fair, mate (and not making a personal accusation to anyone here - talking about society in general), I imagine racism wasn't uncommon in your parent's time, or your time, either. It's certainly not been uncommon in mine. Re: Dawn's comments it depends how strictly you want to go. She doesn't specifically mention "race" after all, but then many racist things these days do not. The trouble with the notion I think is that "not appreciating the benefits of living in Australia" seems to be interchangeable with "not doing what everyone else in Australia does and 100% agreeing with every part of Australian culture/society/politics". It's very, very possible to be appreciative of the benefits of living in Australia (as I am, and I'm sure Nick is), while also being critical of some parts of our nation, and also while making the occasional mistake in one's personal decisions (as I do, and we've seen the same from Nick).