Nick Kyrgios was an embarrassment last night.
Sadly, it was not the first time and doubtless it will not be the last.
His second-round loss to Italian world number 89, Andreas Seppi was yet another lost opportunity.
Pre-tournament Kyrgios was talking up his chances. What he threw up against Seppi was not the stuff of a man entrenched in the world’s top-20.
His unravelling last night was bizarre as Hisense Arena was transformed into Nonsense Arena.
Two sets to love up and seemingly cruising towards a third-round clash with Belgian world number 71, Steve Darcis, a berth in the round of 16 was looking like a formality.
But from that point on it all went pear-shaped for the world number 13.
He went from being energised and businesslike to someone who seemed totally disinterested.
In the space of eight minutes in the third set he copped two code violations for verbal and racquet abuse and, as a result, was docked a point.
He also spent time yelling at his own support crew in the box. The theme seemed to be issues with the way he had been prepared for the tournament.
Suddenly, the pep in his step was gone as he moped around the court.
Everything seemed to have become a drudgery as his body language became akin to a man being led to the gallows.
His shoulders slumped, he dragged his feet between points and before he knew it Seppi had levelled at two sets apiece.
Towards the pointy end of the final set things entered the realm of the seemingly unbelievable.
With scores locked at five-all, staring at a break point, Kyrgios chose not to play a backhand to a ball that landed on the line.
The first point of the next game, with Seppi serving for the match, produced the most bizarre moment of the match.
On what should have been a regulation groundstroke, Kyrgios chose to play the ball back between his legs.
A ‘tweener’ at that point wreaked of a man who could not care less.
Remarkably, he won the game to level at six-all before holding a match point at 7-8 on Seppi’s serve.
He could not convert it and the Italian went on the claim the match 10-8 in the last.
Despite his lack of application for much of the last three sets the crowd did its best to will him on with each point won being met with raucous applause.
There were even boos when twice the Seppi kissed the net and the ball dropped over for a winner.
But, when Kyrgios left the arena the boos were directed at him.
Take nothing away from Seppi, he hung tough and deserved the win but he was greatly aided in his endeavours by a man who appeared to have given up.
John McEnroe has spoken often of Kyrgios’ talent, but equally, he has called into question his attitude.
He did so again after this defeat, saying, “What I don’t understand, what I can’t accept, is when he stops trying. It’s a black eye on the sport”.
McEnroe was never a role model for on-court behaviour but one thing he never did was tank.
One could only imagine what was truly going through the mind of Kyrgios’ Davis Cup captain.
Lleyton Hewitt was doing his best to comment on what he was witnessing but I doubt he really expressed his full thoughts.
For a man who fought for every point in every match he played he must have been gutted to see such a limp performance from a fellow Australian.
The fans deserved better. They deserved to see a full commitment towards winning.
Some will say that they should know what to expect when they part with their hard earned to watch Kyrgios play.
The problem is, fans pay for tickets to a grand slam well before the schedule is released.
Last night they were ‘treated’ to a man who cared little for the result.
Kyrgios’ media conference contained little remorse, with his opening answer being, “I am not going to beat myself up about it.”
He did however allude to one area of his game when he said, “I don’t think there is anyone else in the top-100 without a coach except me. I think the mental thing is big to me. That’s when a coach would be good.”
Time will tell as to whether he will engage a full-time mentor.
Regardless, the current world number 13 appears a long way away from seriously threatening for a major, let alone winning one.
Yes, he may have the talent, but as he freely admitted last night his mentality is not at the level that is required.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
I am not too sure how sport would survive without government money for major stadia Mister Football. Who else do you invisage would pay the hundreds of millions of dollars required to build stadia?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Government has more important priorities than supporting elite sport.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Is it a case of defending, or just concluding: it's his business. Why get so worked up about it?
northerner
Guest
How is it my fault if I buy a ticket to a performance and the band effectively refuses to do its job? I paid, they didn't deliver. It's entirely their fault.
Buddy Holly
Guest
Agree with Mister Football. It is not tanking. I assume there are days when we all go to work and don't put in 100% effort. The problem here is a young adult on a huge public stage trying to control his emotions. I don't agree with what he does but it doesn't mean it is tanking because betting agencies don't like it. gambling should not morally govern how a player performs. Kyrgios should get a coach and listen to the ATP.
HarryT
Guest
He seems to get on well with his young cohort, so I think a young coach like Hewitt would work.
jeff milton
Guest
what is representative stuff? how is that simple?
jeff milton
Guest
explain how they are robots?
jeff milton
Guest
the veterans are not robots. there are planty of millenials that do it right. cop out
jeff milton
Guest
tall poppys dont lose in the second round
lesterlike
Guest
It's your choice whether you go to a band or not. If you know the band is ordinary live then why would you go pay top bucks and then subsequently complain? It's completely your own fault.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Sorry Angus, but I believe he deserves to be scrutinised for that performance. I wasn't aware that we are not supposed to comment on player performance.
Angus
Guest
LEAVE HIM ALONE...he's still a very young guy...has many years ahead of him for goodness sake. Your headline and article is typical of you media guys...TALL POPPY SYNDROME synonymous with the Australian media!!!!
Bee bee
Guest
Although psych meds will do a good job mellowing him out I doubt he would remain in top flight tennis on even a mild dose of mood stabilisers. The work he needs to do is purely psychological. It's tough, boring, introspective Mr Miagi type stuff. But that chip on his shoulder cannot be surgically removed or treated with antibiotics. His chip is purely a software issue not a hardware one.
Bee bee
Guest
Hope your right Harry. He is 21. He has a lot of work to do. I don't think he can ever be a robot like the current top bunch. He has to find a way to keep his heart on is sleeve and still maintain his fight and determination. His Davis Cup captain didn't have much besides fight and determination. But I don't think Hewitt learnt that. It was always there. Maybe someone like Marit Safin could be a better model for his mental game. He had tantrums and carried on (he smashed a Raquet or two nearly every match) but I never witnessed him sulk or become arrogant. His anger never defeated him. He simply had his tanty and moved on.
BeastieBoy
Guest
I am not trying to be funny with this, but he needs the following: 1. to take time off 2. forget representative stuff.. keep it simple 3. to see a good recommended psychiatrist not a psychologist Only once he has his head in order then he needs a tough no nonsense experienced coach.
Bee bee
Guest
If think people completely misunderstand what causes Kyrgios' behaviour. Tennis is mostly a mental game at that level. To be playing at that level you are freakishly talented. I would say Kyrgios is slightly a level above freakishly talented but he is not as mentally tough as most of the players on tour. The gulf in his mental toughness compared to other tour players cannot be bridged by his talent and it is breaking him mentally. He did not tank. He was mentally disintegrated by a slightly less talented but more experienced mentally tough opponent.
Mango Jack
Guest
Or at least on a loan basis, like HECS.
duecer
Guest
Pablo - it's not 'our' money, it's Tennis Australia's money. Money they make, a lot of which comes from the Australian Open. I presume it's a Not for Profit organisation, but not a government organisation. Their objectives I presume would include fostering the game of Tennis so to put money in a promising youngster in the hope the said youngster will increase interest and participation in the game meets that requirement. However when the said youngster then behaves in the way he has, it doesn't do the image much good, but unfortunately there isn't exactly a lot of players coming through to take his spot. TA is very lucky we have the Grand Slam and the huge profits it makes, most other countries are not so lucky. I have always believed that money paid to these players should have to be paid back, like a HECS debt if you make over a certain amount.
Furreal
Guest
"If he can make a good living playing at 90%, and he’s happy with that, so bit it." And if you think his persona is indicative of a happy person, then you're as wrong as much as Kyrgios is a quitter. And because your so eager to rush in and defend him, then I guess you really don't believe it also. After all, why would a happy, well adjusted tennis player need to be defended by anyone such as yourself? The evidence would speak for itself, wouldn't it? After all your the one who said that he told the world his heart wasn't in the game, so why would a happy person do something they don't really enjoy, when they got the money he probably has?