Nick Kyrgios has managed to put himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons – again.
We should be talking about how well he played against world number five Stanislas Wawrinka in the Rogers Cup. The fact that he led 4-0 in the third set before Wawrinka retired hurt.
Even discussing the fact that he has brought Lleyton Hewitt on as an advisor – and not a coach as he has been quick to point out (although someone should let Wikipedia know) – in an extremely smart move.
Instead it’s all about the sledge he delivered midway through the second set.
But why are we in uproar? Was the sledge in bad taste? Yes. Was it unnecessary? Yes. Was it incredibly stupid? Yes. Did it cross the line? Yes.
But was it really that bad? He could have come up with something far worse. Kyrgios could have been racist, in which case we would have every right to be outraged. On the scale of offensive sledges, this is not exactly a hanging offence.
Every time I think about why we are outraged, I come down to just one answer: because it’s Nick Kyrgios. Think about it this way, if Aaron Woods revealed that he said something similar when he was sledging Dave Shillington last Monday night we would have been laughing, praising Woods for coming up with a sledge that triggered a Shillington brain explosion.
Instead it was Nick Kyrgios, and we are outraged.
Much of the outrage is media driven, but even more of it is Twitter driven. People who like to have their say in 140 characters or less and think they are experts. Unfortunately we have seen the media start to treat these people more and more seriously, not just in sport but in all facets of life, and it’s a worrying trend.
According to the media, a few people on Twitter are representative of society as a whole and embedding a few tweets into an article acts as evidence of the public thinking a certain way.
If a journalist doesn’t agree with Kyrgios’ behaviour they jump on Twitter, find a few critical tweets, and voila! We have an article full of ‘evidence’. However there’s no balance, just one-sided outrage.
Unfortunately for Kyrgios this is another in a long line of brain snaps, and when you them together it’s not hard to see why the public is turning against him. But in saying that, it’s also hard to avoid the thought that each indiscretion is blown out of proportion because of who he is.
Each indiscretion is criticised not on its own merit, but on the back of a long line of moments of madness. It’s a snowballing effect and it’s obvious that Kyrgios needs to stop it, but it’s also obvious that he’s struggling to stop it.
Let’s take the ‘tanking’ controversy from Wimbledon. He didn’t try for one game, and watching it live I thought it was incredibly stupid. But I also knew that no matter the result of his match against Richard Gasquet, the tanking would be the central news story, even if it was just one game.
In our rush to judge Kyrgios for choosing not to try for what amounted to be four points, we ignored the fact that tennis players often don’t try for points or games for a variety of reasons.
Nick’s reasoning was not justifiable – he was angry with the umpire and he needs to be able to put the umpire’s decision behind him, something he has struggled to do in the past.
But while some would argue that not trying is never justifiable, Nick was actually told not to try during the 2014 Australian Open.
Let’s flash back to January 15, 2014. It’s around ten o’clock before Kyrgios finally takes to Margaret Court Arena for his second ever match at the Australian Open, a second-round match against France’s Benoit Paire. Kyrgios takes the first two sets seven games to six before dropping the third.
At this point that he starts to suffer from severe cramps. It’s about 1am, and the crowd is heavily supporting their home player. After dropping the first two games of the fourth set, Jim Courier, commentating for Channel Seven, tells the viewers that he needs to throw the fourth set and prepare for a fifth and deciding set. Courier’s thinking is that Kyrgios should use the next 20 or so minutes to recover from cramps and ensure he is able to actually play some tennis in the fifth set.
For the record, Kyrgios didn’t give up in that set, although it was clear he was trying to serve as many aces as possible and ensure he minimised his running. But the point is that there was no outrage directed towards Kyrgios or Courier, nobody came out and said an athlete should never tank.
Maybe it was because nobody was awake to hear Courier’s comments. Or maybe it was because Kyrgios hadn’t yet established a reputation as a ‘bad boy’. But I can guarantee that if Kyrgios finds himself in the same situation at the upcoming US Open and chooses not to try in the fourth set to recover and recuperate he will be absolutely crucified by the Twitterati.
Kyrgios is 20, he has time to learn, but he needs to stop giving people reasons to dislike him and chances to criticise him. While some of the criticism is unjustified and much of it is coming from people who have never experienced the high-pressure situations he finds himself in, it’s on him to being an obvious target.
Maybe, just maybe, if Nick has a year free of controversy, when the brain snap finally comes we won’t be so quick to jump on him. We can only hope, because there are only so many times you can defend someone, and Nick is running out of chances.
Torchbearer
Guest
What I don't get is not that those words came out of his mouth (completely unacceptable) but what type of person even thinks those hateful words? Could you imagine Jason Day, Sally McClellan, any of the Diamonds, the Aus swim Team just as an example of a few World Champions even thinking like that? Only our cricketers come to mind- not much of a role model.
Jamie Radford
Roar Pro
That's only your opinion. Mine is Hewiit is an ex tosser come good, so my point is obvious.
13th Man
Guest
Can we get rid of this clown? He is an absolute joke, Tennis Australia are wasting their money on this spoilt brat and Tomic as well. These guys are an embarrasment to our country! No wonder we have a bad reputation worldwide because we have prats like this representing our nation. Wheres the pride that guys like Hewitt show? Kyrgios has had more than enough time to fix himself up. So many other young kids are far more deserving of the time and money put into him!!! Tennis Australia should get rid of him now! And the rest of his family aren't any better, did you hear is mother and brother defending his actions? Atrocious from all of them.
Anthony
Guest
Yep Cameron Just a few people on twitter are complaining and it is all media beat up. Cameron to be as frank as possible Nick and his brother are tossers. This wasn't a witty comment it was just low. The problem is not the media beat up as you call it,the problem is people like you who keep making BS excuses for him. I am sure the crowd that vented their disapproval during his last defeat was all media driven. Nadal, Djokovic , Navratalova , Azarenka etc they are just a few of the morons to express their disapproval. Obviously being sexist and treating the girl like a piece of meat is not an issue for you. Kyrigios will never learn or grow up because sycophants like you who will just keep writing rubbish like this.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Absolutely FTE. I can't believe that some people think his character is worth a debate. 'Bad boy' isn't the label most would use in describing him.
Vic
Guest
Unfortunately, what you see at 19 is what u will get at 29. Teaching happens at home. Values and morals are learnt at home. Behaviour and how we relate to others are taught at home. From the reactions of his mother and brother, his behaviour is seen as acceptable, even admirable. By the time one leaves school, personality traits are fixed. There might be a bit more to learn, but seldom do people completely change. There can be a bit less impulsivity, a bit more common sense. But disrespect for others, and an overinflated sense of self importance, are taught early on. Is sport so important that bad behaviour should be forgiven at all costs? You say it could have been worse - he could have been a racist. So being racist is worse than being sexist? Never knew that, but interesting view point, i suppose. How about if he made a slur about gays? Also better ? And religious groups - also ok? Or just acceptable against a girl?
Stephanie
Guest
Nick Kyrgios need to grow up and put this bad energy in to tennis. He's a good player but won't be for long if he keeps this behavior up. My whole family are tennis players and was a massive fan, but not anymore. His brother also need to grow up; doesn't help with a brother like that.
Nigel Plumpton from Merrylands
Guest
I get it. If leyton was a tosser its alright for this tosser to be a tosser! And in my eyes, leyton is still a tosser so i dont really get your point.
MJB
Guest
Speaking of, wtf is with his latest haircut - the 'Neapolitan ice-cream' look? That's more offensive that anything that has come out of his mouth lately.
Jamie Radford
Roar Pro
There's no doubt that right now Kyrigios is behaving like a tosser, but so did Hewitt at the same age. This is an argument where I think everyone is right to some degree. Yes his current behavior is deplorable and he should be pulled up for it, but he is also young and would have people all around him telling him how great he is. Asking Hewiit for mentoring help shows he knows he needs to improve his behavior, and is trying to do something about it. Unlike Tomic who will most likely still be a dick when he hits 30, Kyrigios can turn still it around.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I really don't get Kyrgios' apologists. Do they seriously think that all this is "twitter's fault", or because Kyrgios parents or grand parents are non anglo? That a couple of aussie anglo bogans use his parents origins to spit their venom sure I can see that happening but the overall majority of people, worldwide, who can't stand him couldn't care less if Kyrgios has a Greek, Moldavian or Scottish background. He's just, as of now, the type of blokes no one would want to have as a mate, son, boyfriend etc. And when I hear his relatives justifying his attitude with the 'beef' he and Stan W. had since the Queens tournament, I think they are as much to blame as he is. An 18yo woman has her reputation tainted by their boy and no matter how you look at it, this is inexcusable.
Me Too
Guest
It could have been racist? what would he have said - 'you bloody white cuckoo clock!' i think you have been drinking from the waters of the afl's river of political delusion.
Charles Plowdog
Guest
A storm in a teacup. What he said was no worse than anything said on a cricket pitch, and he did not yell it out. These tennis players are a bit precious in my view. And a $10,000 fine; too much. He's a young man finding his way, and dealing with the expectations of people who want him to be courteous and a winner. Anyone remember John McEnroe?
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Yeah exactly what he needs ... more excuses
Frederick the Englishman
Guest
There's zero need for analysis with Kyrgios. It's patently obvious he's a tosser. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.
Jarijari
Guest
Needs a fair bit of time you might reckon.