Nick Kyrgios is hard not to watch, putting on a show each time he plays with
his wide arsenal of shots: tweeners, underhand serves, and behind-the-back
forehands. Sometimes touted as the most “talented player to have ever
played tennis,” Nick Kyrgios’ skill is undeniable.
He’s also tennis’s “villain,” constantly berating referees, officials, and smashing
racquets. The older generation despises him, saying that he is ruining the
game. So do other players, saying that he disrespects them during matches.
His haters call his playing a “circus.” Kyrgios doesn’t seem to mind, saying that
“Everywhere I go I’m seeing full stadiums.” The media loves to write that I am
bad for the sport but clearly not.”
Kyrgios has garnered as many fines from his bad behavior as fans from the
younger generation. The younger audience, tuning in at home, adore him,
watching all his highlights on YouTube and trying to emulate his betweenthe-legs
shots.
Hated and loved, Nick Kyrgios is tennis’s most polarizing figure. The most
talented player on the tour, Kyrgios is also ranked 40th globally and has never
advanced further than the Quarterfinals in a Grand Slam tournament.
Until today.
Beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis player seeded 4th at Wimbledon
in a 3rd round thriller 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7), Nick Kyrgios advanced to the
Quarterfinal of the tournament.
In classic Nick Kyrgios fashion, Kyrgios constantly went after the umpire for
not punishing his opponent Tsitsipas after he threw a ball into the crowd,
which almost hit one of the fans. Tsitsipas, annoyed that Kyrgios was talking
to the umpire so much, tried to peg Kyrgios with his shots and complained to
the umpire that one person was interested in playing tennis, while the other
was trying to make the match into a circus. Following Kyrgios’s win in a
tiebreak, the dispute continued into the locker room.
“It’s constant bullying, that’s what he does,” Tsitsipas said of Kyrgios. “He
bullies the opponents. He was probably a bully at school himself. I don’t like
bullies. I don’t like people that put other people down. He has some good
traits in his character, as well. But when he — he also has a very evil side to
him, which if it’s exposed, it can really do a lot of harm and bad to the people
around him.”
After cruising by Chilean player Cristian Garin in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-6 (7-5) victory in
the Quarterfinals, Kyrgios in a press conference said that “An amazing
atmosphere here again. I never thought I’d be at a semi-final – I thought my
ship had sailed. I may have wasted things at the start of my career but I’m
really proud of the way me and my team have come back out here.”
Following this win, 22-grand slam winner Rafael Nadal withdrew from the
tournament due to abdominal injury, which has Kyrgios advancing to his first
ever Grand Slam Finals appearance.
All eyes are on Kyrgios, as he is expected to put on a great “show” Sunday in
the Finals.
his wide arsenal of shots: tweeners, underhand serves, and behind-the-back
forehands. Sometimes touted as the most “talented player to have ever
played tennis,” Nick Kyrgios’ skill is undeniable.
He’s also tennis’s “villain,” constantly berating referees, officials, and smashing
racquets. The older generation despises him, saying that he is ruining the
game. So do other players, saying that he disrespects them during matches.
His haters call his playing a “circus.” Kyrgios doesn’t seem to mind, saying that
“Everywhere I go I’m seeing full stadiums.” The media loves to write that I am
bad for the sport but clearly not.”
Kyrgios has garnered as many fines from his bad behavior as fans from the
younger generation. The younger audience, tuning in at home, adore him,
watching all his highlights on YouTube and trying to emulate his betweenthe-legs
shots.
Hated and loved, Nick Kyrgios is tennis’s most polarizing figure. The most
talented player on the tour, Kyrgios is also ranked 40th globally and has never
advanced further than the Quarterfinals in a Grand Slam tournament.
Until today.
Beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis player seeded 4th at Wimbledon
in a 3rd round thriller 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7), Nick Kyrgios advanced to the
Quarterfinal of the tournament.
In classic Nick Kyrgios fashion, Kyrgios constantly went after the umpire for
not punishing his opponent Tsitsipas after he threw a ball into the crowd,
which almost hit one of the fans. Tsitsipas, annoyed that Kyrgios was talking
to the umpire so much, tried to peg Kyrgios with his shots and complained to
the umpire that one person was interested in playing tennis, while the other
was trying to make the match into a circus. Following Kyrgios’s win in a
tiebreak, the dispute continued into the locker room.
“It’s constant bullying, that’s what he does,” Tsitsipas said of Kyrgios. “He
bullies the opponents. He was probably a bully at school himself. I don’t like
bullies. I don’t like people that put other people down. He has some good
traits in his character, as well. But when he — he also has a very evil side to
him, which if it’s exposed, it can really do a lot of harm and bad to the people
around him.”
After cruising by Chilean player Cristian Garin in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-6 (7-5) victory in
the Quarterfinals, Kyrgios in a press conference said that “An amazing
atmosphere here again. I never thought I’d be at a semi-final – I thought my
ship had sailed. I may have wasted things at the start of my career but I’m
really proud of the way me and my team have come back out here.”
Following this win, 22-grand slam winner Rafael Nadal withdrew from the
tournament due to abdominal injury, which has Kyrgios advancing to his first
ever Grand Slam Finals appearance.
All eyes are on Kyrgios, as he is expected to put on a great “show” Sunday in
the Finals.
