Nick’s loving it
Kyrgios is ready for Murray in Paris
NICK KYRGIOS began t he week revealing his views on abstaining from sex before matches and will end i t with a much-anticipated French open third-round tie today against Andy Murray.
Something of a non- sequitur, perhaps, but then the 20-year-old Australian is proud of how he fails to follow any conventional patterns.
Asked in an interview by GQ magazine what he thought of the coach’s usual diktat of abstaining prior to performing he replied, ‘I don’t abide by that rule, I don’t abide by that at all.’
Warming to his theme, he pointed at the opportunities for extra curricular activities on the international tour, but said he was wary of locker room gossip. ‘That’s why I don’t mess with any tennis chicks,’ kyrgios added.
Beyond the youthful bravado he can really play, as he showed by beating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year and Roger Federer in Madrid earlier this month. John McEnroe is among those who see kyrgios as a possible future world No 1 (he is already No 30).
He has attracted comparisons to McEnroe with his animated and sometimes histrionic manner on c ourt, al t hough he re f utes parallels with anyone else.
‘I wouldn’t call myself a rebel, maybe different to the rest of the guys,’ kyrgios said yesterday. ‘I go about what I do in my own way, I don’t try to copy anyone else.
‘I’m definitely not going to lie, I’ll continue to say what I think and that’s how it’s going to be. I think the best players in every sport have an unbelievable amount of self-confidence.’
If this outstanding era for men’s tennis lacks something, it is an anti-hero at the top, someone who brings a sharp edge to the rivalries, but the new prince of bling does not quite fit that category. He has a benign view about the top players.
‘I wouldn’t say they’re boring. I love watching Federer, he’s the greatest of all time, and watching Rafa play on the dirt is exciting. Back in the day there was a lot of sledging on court and the guys would get into each other a lot.
‘That might be lost a little now but there are some good characters going around. Guys like (Gael) Monfils are entertaining and I feel l i ke I’ ve got that same personality to go out there and put on a bit of a show.’ With his compatriot Thanasi kokkinakis, who is a year younger and may turn out to be even better, he is in t he vanguard of a long- awaited revival for Australian tennis. kokkinakis f aces Novak Djokovic today. Murray has gone out of his way to be friendly towards the two of them. ‘He’s been really nice to me, and to the young guys he has al most mentored us and offered to hit with us,’ said kyrgios. ‘He’s a great role model and if I was going to ask for help he’d be someone I’d turn to. But you’ve got to put that to one side when you go out and play him. You grow up watching him on TV and all of a sudden I’m playing him.’
The 28-year-old Scot recognises the danger posed by kyrgios’s big serve and groundstrokes, despite having easily beaten his younger foe when they met in the last eight of the Australian open in January. ‘I was struggling physically’ said kyrgios (left). ‘I had issues with my back, it wasn’t very good. I’m feeling fitter and stronger this time. If I pl ay t he r i ght s t yl e I definitely think I can win.’
Would he be getting up to any nocturnal activities last night? ‘Probably not.’ TV: LIVE on Eurosport from 10am.