Nick Kyrgios shuts down tennis commentator over tennis chat
Nick Kyrgios may have found his motivation to make a deep run in the Australian Open but it's nothing to do with finally proving himself as a genuine grand slam contender.
The longer Kyrgios plays in Melbourne, the more aces he will hit and, at $200 a pop, the more money he'll raise for bushfire relief.
Everything else is currently beside the point to the 24-year-old star, as he made abundantly clear when asked about "the bigger picture" of his career today by Kooyong Classic commentator Paul McNamee.
After taking a seat in the commentary booth following an impressive 6-4 6-2 win over former world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov, Kyrgios brushed aside McNamee's question with a hint of frustration in his reply.
"People are losing their homes, losing their lives," Kyrgios said.
"Animals are getting hurt, there's earthquakes going on in Puerto Rico at the moment that aren't getting much exposure at all.
"You know, there's things happening; you guys shouldn't really be asking how I'm hitting my forehand or how I'm shaping up for the Australian Open. There's things that are happening that are real things that need attention and need help, that's what I'm doing right now."
Indeed, Kyrgios was the
driving force behind last night's Rally for Relief that raised a whopping $4.8 million for the bushfire appeal.
The bushfires, as well as the team focused ATP Cup, have given his summer meaning beyond the individual, and at times lonely, pursuit of winning titles.
Kyrgios has often spoken of his lack of motivation and enjoyment playing and preparing for tennis match after tennis match over the course of a long and arduous year.
His $200 donations for aces hit give him the added sense of responsibility for an important cause - a cause that has a unifying effect in a nation where he often polarises.
It's this, rather than any personal goal, that could potentially lift him to a career-best showing at the year's first major.
"It's just crazy that a kid from Canberra had the platform to put out one tweet and get that much traction and it just grew and within a couple of weeks it was amazing how many people worldwide were just willing to help," Kyrgios said.
"And I think that's what we've got to do, if we're able to help then that's what has to happen and we're all going to overcome it."
In his wins against Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kyrgios has kicked off 2020 with two high quality scalps, albeit that his straight sets romp over the Bulgarian was in a low key exhibition setting.
Just as promising was his ability to keep his focus in matches against lower calibre players in Cameron Norrie and Jan-Lennard Struff, accounting for both in straight sets.
Those kinds of matches have historically been a struggle for Kyrgios, with the showtime element of his personality preferring big opponents and big occasions.
Kyrgios will be seeded 23 at the Australian Open, allowing him to avoid a match up with Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Daniil Medvedev for at least the first two rounds.
His first two matches will likely pit him in clashes with opponents of a similar standard to Norrie and Lennard-Struff, giving him a chance to get his teeth into the tournament before he has to face a top-20 opponent.
Kyrgios said he wouldn't be watching tonight when the tournament draw is finalised. No matter who he faces he'll do it on his terms.
"Regardless of who I play I'm just going to go out there and serve big and play big and whatever happens happens," Kyrgios said.
"I just want to have a positive outlook on it, whether I lose in the first round or make a bit of a run.
"Obviously I want to do well and I feel like I can obviously make some strides into the tournament but I've got a couple of days to just continue to bring a positive vibe around and that's what I'm going to do."
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