Kyrgios is always just one tantrum away

IF tennis matches were decided on pure talent alone, then Nick Kyrgios (left) would be among my favourites for the Wimbledon title.

But unfortunately for the young Aussie, there is a lot more to it than great shot-making.

Kyrgios is great to watch because he is completely unpredictable. His serve is one of the best out there, and he can play outrageous winning shots.

The problem is that every minute of the match, there’s a tantrum waiting to erupt. There are alarming mood swings. Kyrgios can be totally in control of a match when something upsets him and he’ll lose his composure.

I saw him play Roger Federer in Florida earlier this year. He lost in three sets but it was a fantastic match. Nick kept himself under control, and I thought he looked like a Grand Slam winner.

Since then, he has had his ups and downs, and I’m beginning to wonder if Kyrgios will ever fulfil his potential.

He has to match his enormous talent with greater self-control.

This year Kyrgios has teamed up with Frenchman Sebastian Grosjean as his coach. Grosjean is a good guy, but I’m not sure if Kyrgios is actually coachable.

The Aussie doesn’t need anyone to teach him how to play winning tennis. He needs someone who can get inside his head to stop him pressing the selfdestruct button.

Winning a Grand Slam tournament requires not just great talent, but also total focus on the job.

Nick Kyrgios has the talent in spades. I really hope he manages to find that focus before it’s too late.