Kyrgios lets Wimbledon chance slip
Photo: Getty
TENNIS: It was unwatchable. From virtually the first ball of his third-round clash against Kei Nishikori to the last, Nick Kyrgios was never in the hunt.
With victory delivering a shot at journeyman qualifier Ernests Gulbis for slot in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, Kyrgios had everything to play for.
For once, the marbles seemed to be fall the Australian's way.
Nishikori is a formidable obstacle at any time but, on grass, Kyrgios had every reason to feel confident. And animated. He was neither.
For reasons difficult to fathom one of the world's most lethal grasscourters could not produce when it mattered.
Admirably, Kyrgios was honest post-match with admissions he panicked.
He is hardly alone there in professional sport. It happens in team sports. In individual sports, the consequences are magnified.
The past, regrettably, can't be changed.
Kyrgios has never had a better shot of making a deep run into the second week of Wimbledon.
Yes, he managed it in 2014 as a 19-year-old, sweeping into the quarter-finals with that famous win over Rafael Nadal.
Four years on, Kyrgios is familiar with the fear of losing. Too familiar.
Unable to settle against Nishikori, and panicked to the point where his maladies became physical, Kyrgios conceded he couldn't find the solution.
Which means his next step is more important than ever.
Long criticised for not employing a full-time coach or mentor, the time has arrived for Kyrgios to do so.
Now is the time to review what is required to carry him from pretender to contender.
Failure to act will achieve nothing other than guarantee more situations like yesterday.