Kyrgios

[PaulP]

In about 3 years he will monster the competition.

Hes going to do a Marat Safin.  All the talent is there and only towards the end will hr realise that he will have to work hard to stay relevant and ironically thats when he'll play his best most consistent tennis.

I would quibble about using Safin as an example (I think his best period was from about 20-25 years old), and I’m not quite so confident that Kyrgios’ late career surge will be a fait accompli, but I am hopeful that he will turn it around. For someone of his immense talent, his record to date is embarrassing.

The signs were better at Wimbledon. The first tournament I can recall where he seemed genuinely engaged for the entire two weeks. He was a worthy opponent to Djokovic, took it right up to him and really looked like he wanted to win. Of course, we had the usual nonsense. But he has a lot of work to do IMO. His most urgent task is to cut the self sabotage out of his game, in all its guises. I’d also have a look at his box - I’ve got no idea who sits there - if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say they are a mix of family, friends and other assorted hangers on. Not the type that will challenge him, pull him into line and have tough conversations IMO.

If anyone has set themselves up for late career success, it’s him. His style is to play fast points, based on a sensational serve and terrific ground strokes. Fast points means short games, short matches, minimal running. I also don’t think he’s had any injuries of note. In terms of coaching and general back-of-house setup, he gives himself a freedom to do pretty much as he pleases. Nobody tells him what to do, so he should not be mentally worn down by years of grind and “over” coaching. In both physical and mental aspects, he should be, comparatively speaking, as fresh as a daisy.

But he needs to change. Whether he undergoes some kind of self induced inner transformation, or he gets people around that make him change, it has to happen, otherwise we will have an entire career of someone who contributes more to his losses than his opponents. After the final, Goran Ivanisevic said they knew Kyrgios was vulnerable when he ripped into his entourage. And all it takes for a player like Djokovic to beat you is the slightest sniff.

I can’t stand seeing a bloke waste so much talent.