Maverick Kyrgios moving in right direction – McEnroe

IF unpredictability is a weapon on a tennis court, then no player possesses a more potent threat than maverick Nick Kyrgios, the 22-year-old Australian who divides opinion like no other.

Capable of sublime artistry and brutal power, sometimes in the space of two strokes, Kyrgios has been tipped as a future grand slam champion from the moment he dismantled Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014 as a wildcard.

Sadly, it has often been the foul mouth, the stroppy sulks and the occasional bouts of tanking (losing on purpose) that have grabbed most of the headlines – until this year, that is.

Long overdue maybe, but Kyrgios, whom former great John McEnroe calls the most talented player of his generation, is beginning to add mental fortitude and reliability to the dizzying array of shots he owns in his arsenal.

The French Open, providing he recovers from a hip problem that has put a major doubt over his participation, is the next test of his greater maturity, especially as he has managed only five wins in four visits to the clay court citadel so far.

Two wins already this season over Novak Djokovic and a sensational struggle against Roger Federer in Miami, in what was the match of year so far, have certainly given McEnroe, one of Kyrgios’s harshest critics in the past, cause for optimism.

“As a tennis fan and someone who believes he is the most talented player out there, I’m hopeful that he will harness his talent and reach the potential he has,” McEnroe said.

“The good news is that after the Australian Open [defeat], when the question marks came up again, he seems to have taken steps in the right direction.

“That match against Roger in Miami was one of the best matches I’ve seen all year. Tremendous.

“I didn’t anticipate he would have a lot of success on clay but if he is able to play hard all the time, why not?”

There is no question that Kyrgios, ranked 19, has the weaponry needed to win slams, with his serve already regarded as one of the best in tennis by none other than Federer.

This season he has won 92% of his service games, second only to American John Isner.

As befits a player who could never be described as conventional, his second serve often defies logic.

“He is the master of the mysterious when hitting second serves,” the ATP’s strategy analyst, Craig O’Shannessy, said.

“Sometimes it’s a kicking mule, other times it’s a fast ball that whizzes right by you for an ace. It’s unreadable.”