Nick Kyrgios has officially reached the pits. John McEnroe has called him a “bonehead”.
During his stellar career of world number one for 168 weeks, winning seven Slam singles, nine doubles, and a mixed, plus 77 ATP singles, McEnroe was arguably the worst-behaved tennis player ever.
This makes Kyrgios the Richard Cranium of world tennis.
He was well beaten 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1 by Andy Murray in the first round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
But the sad fact is Nick Kyrgios is a rare and raw talent, very capable of winning Slam singles titles sooner rather than later.
Some of his ground strokes against Murray made the Scot blink. Not only did they leave his racquet like a bazooka, but his precision placement was breath-taking. Add his dynamic serve, and there’s a lot to like about Kyrgios’ tennis.
If only he can up the behaviour bar before his major sponsors pull the chain on him, and the ATP suspends him for six months or more, and heavily fine him.
Not like the recent Montreal Masters, where the ATP bashed Kyrgios with a wet lettuce leaf for his tasteless sledge to Stan Wawrinka.
The ATP suspended a 28-day ban and a $35,000 fine, which will be invoked if Kyrgios transgresses again in the next six months.
During the Murray clash, Kyrgios was certainly no angel, slamming his racquet into the court and often cursing, but comparing him to past performances that almost made him a choir boy.
What was more interesting was watching the vastly different natures of Kyrgios and Murray.
Not only is Kyrgios explosive, but he’s the most vain player on the circuit, constantly checking himself out on the many television screens around centre court.
Murray is a top bloke, but sadly he’s had a charisma bypass which belies his talent. Every interview Murray looks as though he’s just woken up from a 36-hour sleep, his voice monotone and seemingly uninterested.
He’s far removed from that, and needs to upgrade his persona.
In the meantime Nick Kyrgios, don’t take a leaf out of John McEnroe’s CV that was “low lighted” at Stockholm in 1984 for slamming a ball out of the stadium, calling the central umpire a “jerk”, and smashing soft-drink cans off a sideline table.
Or screaming “You can’t be serious – YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS” to the central umpire during the 1985 Wimbledon.
Or McEnroe’s lowest moment, when he was booted out of the Australian Open in 1990 for continually abusing anyone in sight.
To mention three of the many.
Today’s John McEnroe is the best television commentator on the planet, a far cry from his explosive playing days.
Hopefully Nick Kyrgios won’t take that long to realise his true potential.
That would be a waste, as he’s the only one who can change his landscape.
Riccardo
Guest
While it is true Lordy, that Kyrgios is talented, he is lazy. His lack of fitness and footwork can be telling in longer matches and has cost him. He needs to work harder; that alone will impinge upon his poor attitude. Because of the group of players coming through for Australia he is probably the most talented and could really excel and the personality he provides the game at that point will be better received.
Riccardo
Guest
Your first comment is debateable but your second is inaccurate, inarticulate and misinformed. Have you read John's book? How about Jimmy Connors' book? How much of Mac's career did you use to surmise the outcome of such a pithy and puerile comparison? McEnroe is a giant of the game and came from the golden period of Tennis with the sport experiencing exponential growth and graced by genuine rivalries amongst significant groups of players, artists with personalities. His boorish behaviour, which in no small way garnered attention for the game, came from his frustration at officialdom's apparent lack of talent and dedication. Essentially, if he had to work so hard to be #1 and entertain, the least these folk could do was to get their calls right etc. Were you aware that he re-enacts his antics for the benefit of fans of the senior tour programme? STILL providing personality for the fans. And his commentary, particularly concerning technical analysis, is beyond compare.
Northerner
Guest
Wawrinka's marriage broke down. It happens, and doesnt necessarily reflect on character. Smearing your friend and a teenage girl to try to get an edge in a tennis game, however, certainly does reflect on character. Oh, and by the way, your comment that Wawrinka was "in bed" with his new girlfriend while his wife was having their child is pretty close to defamatory, given that their daughter was born in 2010.
Adam
Guest
Kyrios said something stupid, all be it true and has been crucified, while Warinka, splits from his partner who he had just had a child with and is in bed with a young female player at the same time and his reputation is untouched. Seriously who's character should be more in question....?
Simoc
Guest
Murrays interviews are way better than Lords writing. And Lords writing is way better than McEnroes anything, other than McEnroeactually playing tennis shots.
northerner
Guest
Oh come on. The comment was pretty obviosly tongue in cheek, and had nothing at all to do with Murray's prowress at tennis, and more to do with his ability to sell gear.
Nick
Guest
Murray needs to "upgrade his persona"? What an arrogant statement that is. He's doing fine actually, plenty of sponsors, grand slam winner and enough other titles to keep him reasonably happy I'm sure. But no, he's still got a few kinks to iron out according to some know-nothing Australian armchair critic with very little to add to the discussion bar some choice character assessment from afar. It's little wonder the media are so often despised by the men and women actually performing in the sporting arena, breathtaking arrogance and short memories seem to be the top of your CVs