Nick Kyrgios throws a point, in the distance…sirens.
Every time Nick Kyrgios does some new dumb thing, Facebook comment sections light up with the word ‘flog’, that 55-year-old man on the train ‘tsks’ smugly to himself as he scours the Telegraph’s back page, and the pants of Australia’s morning talk-back host’s collectively stiffen at the prospect of straddling their high horse for the next 48 hours.
And because Nick Kyrgios is Nick Kyrgios – he’s gone off and done some new, dumb thing in the second round of the Shanghai Open.
If his donkey drop serve last night didn’t at least make you chuckle, and instead filled you with a violent rage – maybe it’s time you asked yourself why?
Why are you either surprised or upset that a 21-year-old kid who’s openly admitted he doesn’t really like the sport, occasionally just doesn’t give a toss?
He’s on record saying he can’t see himself playing beyond 27, and he “doesn’t love tennis”.
Of course he doesn’t.
His formative years were spent in the Australian junior circuit which is a nightmarish hellscape of precocious man-children attempting to live out the broken dreams of their helicopter parents, and then after sacrificing school and a social life he’s thrust onto the single most gruelling professional sports tour in a hopelessly lonely sport.
To be fully devoted, like the Roger Federers and the Novak Djokovics of the world, you have to have an almost pathological obsession with it.
Kyrgios clearly doesn’t have that.
He’s said he kinda prefers basketball, but he “doesn’t know what else he’d do” because it’s all he knows – he happens to be uniquely talented at it, and people keep paying him for it, so he keeps on doing it.
And that’s completely fine.
He doesn’t owe it to you, or anyone to treat the game with some sort of hallowed reverence – and it’s not the end of the world if occasionally he spits the dummy and treats tennis for what it really is: a fundamentally meaningless game where two people hit a ball at each other.
A spectator heckled him during the match, “respect the game”, and perhaps that’s part of why we get so irrationally enraged when he pulls these antics.
It shatters this comforting, but wholly manufactured idea that the realm of sport is sacred ground.
That maybe a tennis tournament literally named in honour of Rolex watches doesn’t have any higher purpose.
For sports-lovers like myself that can be a daunting realisation, given the frankly shameful amount of time we devote to it – but maybe it’s not the worst thing to be reminded of once in a while.
As petulant and puerile as it was, there’s something strangely refreshing about someone who refuses to pander to our delusions.
We need Federer and his mates at the front of the class to give the sport status and distinction, but every so often we need the Nick Kyrgios’ of the world to throw the script out the window and pull our heads out of our butts.
After all, sport is so precious and unique, because it is completely meaningless.
Because it’s one of the few things in the world that can mean everything and nothing, sometimes at once.
It doesn’t demand our unflinching fealty and we can play like our lives depend on it sometimes and other times we can just treat it for what it is, some dumb game that shits us to tears.
Of course the standard is higher for professional athletes, but so are the burdens and if sometimes people crack under the pressure, that it’s not a disgrace – but completely human and normal.
You can think that he’s a dickhead, or a tosser (you’re probably right!) – but can we please put away the confected outrage that this is some great slight on our sport?
And while we’re at it, let’s dismiss any idea that his behaviour was ‘un-Australian’. Yes, Australians are known for diggin’ in our heels and toughing it out – but we also love chucking sickies and hitting the tins early on a Friday.
In fact, I bet a decent chunk of you are reading this at work right now – so maybe we should put our stones away until we get out of this glass house.
Mushi
Guest
At the comparison to "mundane" jobs thing it's a bit of a false equivalence right? I've been a moderate apologist for Nick. He is by all evidence a tosser, but then so are truck loads of others. His behaviour largely effects himself so really if anyone should have a gripe it's the man in his bathroom mirror. But this he doesn't owe anyone guff is a bit off. For starters quiting during a match isn't a sickie on a friday, it is more like mid way through an important client meeting on said friday just saying "screw it I'm bored of you people" then whipping out your phone and checking your social media of choice. Also he does owe the live and TV audience a genuine effort, that's the implicit contract of professional sports (and judging by the punishment an explicit requirement of being a pro tennis player) so ethically AND legally it seems that yes he does owe people something when he takes money. I think if he listens to press like this he's got little chance of developing.
Rory
Guest
I think the premise of this article, that Nick K doesn't care and that should be ok, is starting to be discredited now. There's a lot of talk around the "don't care" thing as being a cover for him actually caring too much and not coping with it. That makes a lot more sense to me.
Rory
Guest
Sure anyone can come up with those 2 names. But lets not be flippant about it, Nick's close to being on par with Serena already and her blow ups have accumulated over 20 years. Even if we say those 2 were worse, Nick is coming in arguably at number 3, in the history of pro tennis at the age of 21. That's literally thousands of other pro tennis players. It clearly is what it is, no point in diminishing it. McEnroe is universally considered the worst behaved player ever, what does it achieve by comparing Nick favourably to him? And in case there are differences that might point to different personal issues - McEnroe pretty much just went at umpires over line calls. Nick's list of indiscretions is all over the place, i'm sure I don't need to list them.
Juzz
Guest
Really? I can think of two pretty quickly. Serena Williams and John Mcenroe. I cannot remember Nick ever threatening to kill a lineswoman or the many shocking tantrum's she had. John Mcenroe is on a league of his own. Viktor Troicki's outburst recently was pretty ordinary. Nick can be a twat but the behaviour of Serena and John is far, far worse.
Juzz
Guest
A lot of anger in your reply. Players get burnt out and no doubt sometimes you cant be bothered. Bit like having a sickee on Monday. People also forget some of the greatest stars in Tennis were complete pratts when they were in their early twenties. It appears more that if your a top 5 player you can do pretty much what you want. Just look it up on youtube and its not Nick Kyrgios who appears on the first page!
Steve
Guest
Yes he does. We ultimately pay his wages!
anon
Guest
He might not owe the public anything, but he owes $33,000 and 8 weeks on tour to the ATP now.
Craig
Guest
Kyrgios doesn't owe me anything. The Australian public don't owe him anything either - you behave like an arrogant, spoilt *insert appropriate name here* then you don't deserve the respect of the public. He also doesn't deserve to represent his country. On the ATP tour he represents himself, and he's doing that poorly. Perhaps one day he will grow up and realise his mistakes. If he hates tennis so much and the "busy lifestyle" is too much, cut back his schedule. He can pick and choose what tournaments he plays in - cut it back. Hell, just trot out for 4 grand slams a year if that's all you can be bothered (and you can maintain a sufficient ranking and/or qualify).
John
Guest
Bad publicity in recent years has proven more powerful than good publicity .apart from the top 5,I bet you cannot name 3 more in the top 20 except him.sponsors know this too well
geoff
Guest
Good god Idiocy knows no bounds
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Just about 5 million Aussie Dollars in prize money that's all.
Juzz
Guest
Geoff are you saying he is the only player that has given up? I honestly don't know why you care so much. Many players have forfeited games they are losing or walked off injured when the game is almost finished. Does everyone cry in outrage. No. However if its Nick Kyrgios we get the pitch forks. This rubbish about him being a contractor or being employed is just stupid and irrelevant. I wonder whether the same people whinging about Nick are also complaining about Matthew Wade or the terrible performance of the Australian Cricket team. Doubtful. Were you on this website bagging out Serena Williams when she said she was going to kill a lineswoman, or David Nalbandian when he hit a linesman. Doubtful. People pick and choose when its convenient. Geoff you said “don’t even really like” or waste everyone’s time and energy". How does he personally waste your time and energy exactly. He invigorates a sport that for a long time has been pretty boring. I say lets enjoy it for however long the ride lasts for.
Juzz
Guest
I agree with your article completely. I don't understand why we should care and I find it amusing there is such outrage. Nick's sponsors know what they get when they sponsor him; if anything they are getting great value if he is in the lime light so much. I like watching Kyrgios play, he's a huge talent and his on court persona makes for interesting viewing. Watching the likes of Federer is good, however sometimes the same old players get a little boring.
Shaun Anstis
Guest
That, dear writer , is a load of horse hockey. He earns his money because people pay theirs to watch him play. He owes us most of what he has. If he doesn't like the sport, then he can go do something else. He has earned more money by the age of 21 and-a-half than most of us will earn in our entire adult working lives and he has the audacity to say he owes us nothing, and then you buy it and back him up? Up yours, up his, up anyone's who agrees with either of you...
Hoges5
Roar Rookie
I like your point that sport is meaningful yet meaningless all at the same time - quite a deep thought for Friday morning. However, Your argument falls apart that "He doesn’t owe it to you, or anyone to treat the game with some sort of hallowed reverence". He does owe his living to people that pay money to sponsor, watch or supply these tournaments. If he was a waitress, you would ask for a refund, if he was in a call-centre you would ask for his supervisor. Don't accept poor service and low standards - all you are doing is lowering your standards. In short - he is a poor employee and should be reprimanded or sacked. It is called consequences for HIS choices, not mine.
Bring Back...?
Guest
Absolutely, but don't carry on like a petulant brat with no respect for others.
Gman
Guest
Hi Bring Back...? In the meantime, withdraw for tournaments & take 4 months off. Have some time for himself, travel & work out what he really wants to do with HIS life.....
Bring Back...?
Guest
And Gman, everyone I think would respect his decision either way. In the meantime though....
Bring Back...?
Guest
Well said Geoff. The philosophical garbage in here is an attempt to justify the unjustifiable.
Gman
Guest
As with most online social forum there are many judgements from people who do not know Nick and probably know little about professional tennis. Hopefully we all feel a little better for having the opportunity to judge others?! As a former tennis coach I find it painful to watch Nick self-destruct like this. True what many have said, that he grew up in privileged surroundings with plenty of support & it seems now that was doing something he didn't, or at least now doesn't, enjoy. What I'm sure Nick has now is some money in the bank and as an adult he gets to choose what to do with his life. For his benefit, as much as to put fans out of our misery, I would really like to see Nick make an adult decision about what HE wants to do with his life. Many of us make the same choice and change careers at some stage in our life - Nick, make that choice for yourself, for your benefit & everyone elses. When you buy a ticket for round 2 of a professional tennis tournament, you usually don't know who you will see play, especially if you arranged your tickets well before the event. I would have been disappointed to have been presented with this match, having shown up to watch some professional tennis. The organisers are unable to slot in another match to make up for a short match, in fairness to players so I can certainly understand disappointment for spectators. Nick, it's your life, please choose what you want to spend your days doing and if that's not playing professional tennis, fine, do us all a favour and do something you love. Good luck.