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Is there a more unfairly criticised Australian athlete than Nick Kyrgios?
The 21-year-old rising tennis star recently made more headlines after his shock decision to withdraw from the Australian Olympic team, but after the treatment he was subjected to by Australian team chef de mission Kitty Chiller, could you really blame him for doing so?
There is a bias and discontent from the Australian media towards Kyrgios and the general public is lapping it up.
Sensationalist reporters love to create drama whenever he slightly oversteps the mark with his on-court antics, yet are happy to turn a blind eye when someone like Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray does a similar thing.
Chiller wanted to “provide an environment where athletes feel supported, respected and comfortable”, something which she has clearly failed to do for Kyrgios.
Chiller’s actions are also hypocritical when you consider the records of other Australian athletes likely to go to Rio.
Kyrgios has received little fanfare over the past six months despite clearly making improvements in his behaviour and letting his tennis do the talking with numerous wins against top ten opponents and an ATP title.
For all the reverence in which the Olympics are held, it certainly isn’t the pinnacle of tennis and at 21 years old he will get another opportunity in four years.
Until then, I will be in the minority of people that support and wish the best for our country’s most talented rising tennis star.
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