Kyrgios may hunt for new coach
TENNIS: Nick Kyrgios will consider resuming the hunt for a new coach after surging back into the grand-slam seeding bracket with a phenomenal effort to win the Mexico Open.
But even as the unpredictable Australian exults in the biggest win of his career, he concedes he still lacks the professionalism to become a top-10 contender.
“I went jet-skiing at 5.30pm (before downing world No.3 Alexander Zverev in the final), so I don’t think that’s what a top-10 player would do,” Kyrgios said after defeating the German in Acapulco.
“I need to be way more disciplined, I need to be way better professionally and I need to do the right things.
“I don’t even have a coach, so maybe I start there.”
Kyrgios has not worked fulltime with a coach since ending his brief partnership with Sebastien Grosjean in 2017.
He retains Ashcon Rezazadeh as fitness conditioner and Will Maher as physiotherapist.
Kyrgios surged to No. 31 – a rise of 41 places – after rolling world No. 2 Rafael Nadal, Zverev, world No. 9 John Isner and triple grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka in a spectacular week.
The gain puts Kyrgios provisionally inside the 32 seedings for the French Open (May 26June 9) and Wimbledon (July 114).
With 90 ranking points to defend in Miami next month, Kyrgios heads to Indian Wells this week with renewed self-belief.
“I loved this week, everything about it but I could have lost second round to Rafa. He had three match points,” Kyrgios said.
“I’m very lucky and very fortunate to be in this position.”
— Leo Schlink