Level-headed Kyrgios shaking off bad-boy tag
TEAM player, motivator, inspiration – they’re words not usually associated with Nick Kyrgios, and the jury is very much out on whether they’ll stick long-term.
For the past week, however, Australia’s tennis bad boy has made good. Three from three in his singles at the ATP Cup, he was called upon to team up with Alex de Minaur in the deciding doubles clash with Great Britain on Thursday.
For Kyrgios the task was clear as the match got tighter.
“I played some epic matches in my career, so I know that the more level-headed you are in those moments you can think clearly,” said Kyrgios, who in late September was hit with a 16-week suspended sentence for not so level-headed behaviour on tour.
“We were down match point and he (de Minaur) was pretty angry and I just said ‘man, you’re fine’, and then he hit a backhand line winner. “And I was, like: ‘See?”’ Admitting to being flat at times in the rubber, Australian No.1 de Minaur said Kyrgios had “carried” him during the match, before Kyrgios literally did so after a tense win.
The pair saved four match points before prevailing 3-6 6-3 18-16 (super tiebreak).
“I had a match that didn’t go my way, but still, I couldn’t have had a more supportive person after the match and even on the doubles court,” said de Minaur, who had never paired with Kyrgios before in tournament play.
“So it was great to be on the same side of the court as Nick, and hopefully there is plenty of more times. It’s just amazing to see what Nick just brings.”
The Aussies will take on the winner of last night’s SpainBelgium clash in tonight’s semi-final in Sydney.