Kyrgios calls for more Australian tournaments

[Aussie Darcy]

Well this is interesting and something I agree with, Kyrgios calls for more Australian tournaments and echoes Murray's comments that the tour calendar is too long.

Nick Kyrgios says more Australian-based tournaments should be introduced on the ATP Tour as the divisive talent joined Andy Murray in lamenting the arduous length of the season.

The 22-year-old, like Murray, will use this week's Brisbane International to return from a hip injury and says he is ticking all the boxes ahead of the Australian Open.

The pair, along with Novak Djokovic (elbow) and Rafael Nadal (knee), are battling physical ailments, with Murray on Sunday suggesting more players would start taking mid-season breaks to prolong their careers.

Kyrgios, who admits to often struggling for motivation and drive, thinks the season is too long and would love to see more tournaments played on home soil to offset the travel toll.

"I don't know why we don't," he said.

"I think people would be more than willing to come back [and play] here throughout the year.

"For us in Australia - I was on the road for four months last year - that's pretty tough when I want to spend time with my family."

Kyrgios also believes the tour should start later.

"We have three tournaments here and you look at the guys from America and in Europe who have so many tournaments and as Australians I think we're a bit disadvantaged being away for so long," he said.

Despite that, the world No.21 is happy with his preparation as he seeks to improve on a horror 2017 grand slam record that didn't see him go past a second round.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/...r-to-offset-arduous-tour-20180101-h0c3re.html

 

[DerekNoleFam1]

Agree with NK, more tourneys down here.
Maybe a couple after the AO, to extend it further.

 

[George Turner]

Where's the "no but i still love Kyrgios" poll option?

 

[Forehand_Slice]

Most of the top Australians are good on grass, so adding a Grass Tournament before Wimbledon wouldn't be bad.

 

[KINGROGER]

Agreed and make Brisbane a 500

 

[MasturB]

I wouldn’t be opposed to subbing some of the low attended tournaments in Asia during the Indoor Swing and bringing them to Australia.

France has like 10 events. But they all seem to be well attended.

 

[merwy]

I wouldn’t be opposed to subbing some of the low attended tournaments in Asia during the Indoor Swing and bringing them to Australia.

France has like 10 events. But they all seem to be well attended.

I have to disagree with removing tournaments from Asia. I know there is low attendance now but interest in tennis is definitely rising. First with Nishikori, now with other strong youngsters from Japan, SK and China. So it’s something the ATP should keep investing in instead of giving up on. About Australia.. don’t they have enough tournaments already? I mean they already have a freaking slam and some small tournaments outside of that (plus one in New Zealand). That’s a lot for a country so far removed from the rest of the world.

 

[Gazelle]

Tennis calls for fewer 'australian' players.

 

[Red Rick]

I wouldn't mind. Ozzy tournaments are great. Ozzy players are great.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

I have to disagree with removing tournaments from Asia. I know there is low attendance now but interest in tennis is definitely rising. First with Nishikori, now with other strong youngsters from Japan, SK and China. So it’s something the ATP should keep investing in instead of giving up on. About Australia.. don’t they have enough tournaments already? I mean they already have a freaking slam and some small tournaments outside of that (plus one in New Zealand). That’s a lot for a country so far removed from the rest of the world.

Australia has a full month dedicated to tennis, any country that has a slam really shouldn't complain. Not many places can boast of the amount tennis events they have like Oz can. They additionally have Brisbane, Sydney, and Hopman Cup to satisfy tennis needs all over the country. And throw in some Davis Cup here and there. So I personally don't agree with more.

 

[Bartelby]

Brevity is a virtue.

 

[merwy]

By the way I also think the tour is too tough but don’t agree that it means that the off season should be longer. A few weeks of extra vacation in December isn’t going to do anything. There should be more possibilities to take time off during the season. Maybe make 17 tournaments count for points instead of 19.

 

[EloQuent]

I love Nick but I have to disagree. Australia is after all a smaller nation and already hosts several tournaments, let alone a Slam. And if the tour is too *long* then it should be reduced, not added to.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

By the way I also think the tour is too tough but don’t agree that it means that the off season should be longer. A few weeks of extra vacation in December isn’t going to do anything. There should be more possibilities to take time off during the season. Maybe make 17 tournaments count for points instead of 19.

There are periods where the players can take breaks, post AO, post W and post USO all come to mind.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Nick needs to start winning tournaments and big titles before making any demands. Guys like Laver, Rosewall or even Rafter might make this suggestion, but Nick?! It's almost laughable.

 

[Nostradamus]

Agree with NK, more tourneys down here.
Maybe a couple after the AO, to extend it further.

it is great opportunity to visit the USA after febuary. come here and enjoy the Indian wells or Miami. some hot girls in miami

 

[Russeljones]

This answers the question of whether Kyrgios can count to four.

 

[Otacon]

What if we reversed the February-March swing with the Australian series ?

 

[MugOpponent]

How many tournaments should Australia have? It's not a large country population wise, it's incredibly inconvenient for all non-Aussie players and they have one of the slams. I just don't understand where Nick is coming from on this at all.

The Tokyo/Peking/Shanghai events should be coordinated to coincide with the Australian Open.

 

[EloQuent]

The Tokyo/Peking/Shanghai events should be coordinated to coincide with the Australian Open.

Beijing is an 11 hour flight from Sidney, so I'm not sure this is practical.

 

[EloQuent]

What if we reversed the February-March swing with the Australian series ?

This could work!

 

[rod99]

This could work!

won't work. australia wants the tournaments in january which is in the middle of the australian summer.

 

[EloQuent]

won't work. australia wants the tournaments in january which is in the middle of the australian summer.

I think Australia likes to start off the season. But it's really hot! Wouldn't the fall in March make more sense?

Similarly, I'm not sure why USO over here needs to be in August instead of September.

 

[Red Rick]

Nick needs to start winning tournaments and big titles before making any demands. Guys like Laver, Rosewall or even Rafter might make this suggestion, but Nick?! It's almost laughable.

So guys who played 40 years ago know better than guys who play now?

I mean what?

 

[EloQuent]

So guys who played 40 years ago know better than guys who play now?

I mean what?

you're right, the only opinion that matters is Tomic

 

[MeatTornado]

"I think people would be more than willing to come back [and play] here throughout the year."

I'll call BS on that. It took decades just to get the entire tour convinced to make the trip for a freaking SLAM. The players do not want to fly back to Australia in July for a 500.

 

[ibbi]

Im sure every player on the tour wishes they'd play the entire calendar in whatever country they live in....

 

[SpinToWin]

Nah, but I do think Brisbane should be upgraded to a 500.

 

[BGod]

Oh boohoo. Canada has 40% more people without even a 250 tournament after our Masters which gets split between two cities.

Tennis Canada has its problems but deserves at least a couple 250s. Vancouver & Niagara.

 

[EloQuent]

Oh boohoo. Canada has 40% more people without even a 250 tournament after our Masters which gets split between two cities.

Tennis Canada has its problems but deserves at least a couple 250s. Vancouver & Niagara.

Too cold. And Vancouver is way out of the way, unless you combine it with IW which seasonally won't work.

 

[bigserving]

So Nick does have some motivation. He can make that his own personal tennis passion.

Now, he just needs to play more tournaments, win a lotta money and create a new tournament, or two, in AussieLand. Problem solved. Passion pursued.

 

[Chadillac]

I really get sick of people saying the tour is too long, especially ones who dont try in half their matches.

Nick isnt known for his brain, shows it every time he talks

 

[MrFlip]

The guy who looks like he doesn't do much gym work and is prone to hip injuries says the tennis year is too long......

 

[Slightly D1]

Push the AO back another 2 weeks, have a 250 and a 500 before. Or maybe take away the 1000 from Paris indoors and let Australia have one either during the Australian stretch or later in the year.

 

[Slightly D1]

"I think people would be more than willing to come back [and play] here throughout the year."

I'll call BS on that. It took decades just to get the entire tour convinced to make the trip for a freaking SLAM. The players do not want to fly back to Australia in July for a 500.

It could take place around the Asian swing towards the end of the year to solve the travel and time issues. It would be sort of along the way or at least would be more reasonable geographically.

 

[Gary Duane]

Australia has a full month dedicated to tennis, any country that has a slam really shouldn't complain. Not many places can boast of the amount tennis events they have like Oz can. They additionally have Brisbane, Sydney, and Hopman Cup to satisfy tennis needs all over the country. And throw in some Davis Cup here and there. So I personally don't agree with more.

For purely selfish reasons I prefer not to have to deal with a 14-16 hour time difference!

 

[helterskelter]

Australia has a full month dedicated to tennis, any country that has a slam really shouldn't complain. Not many places can boast of the amount tennis events they have like Oz can. They additionally have Brisbane, Sydney, and Hopman Cup to satisfy tennis needs all over the country. And throw in some Davis Cup here and there. So I personally don't agree with more.

I agree with you about the country not needing more, but I think that the Australian Open does get the short end of the stick for warmup period compared to Roland Garros or the US Open. They both have six weeks or so of warmup events. True, Wimbledon only has three, but even that's one more than the Australian, and there's the issue of the cost of grass-court events. I think it'd be ideal if the Australian Open were at the end of March, with Indian Wells and Miami moved forward to February so that they could serve as warm-ups for it. But I'm not sure whether the weather in Palm Springs or Miami in February would be suitable. I doubt it'd be too cold, but it might be too wet, at least in Florida. I'd be surprised if there were a rainy season in the California desert.

 

[EloQuent]

It could take place around the Asian swing towards the end of the year to solve the travel and time issues. It would be sort of along the way or at least would be more reasonable geographically.

You're looking at the map as one dimensional. The flight from China to Australia is 11-13 hours. Just as much travel as from Europe to East Asia or North America.

 

[BeatlesFan]

So guys who played 40 years ago know better than guys who play now?

I mean what?

Last time I checked, Australia was just as far away 40 years ago. The "arduous schedule" of today is little different than it was decades back, in fact it's easier since the old guard used their off time to play endless exos. My obvious point was that Laver, Rosewall and Rafter all won SLAMS and were acknowledged as great players. Nick hasn't done diddly in his career yet, but he makes suggestions about the tennis calender. You entirely missed my point.

 

[Red Rick]

Last time I checked, Australia was just as far away 40 years ago. The "arduous schedule" of today is little different than it was decades back, in fact it's easier since the old guard used their off time to play endless exos. My obvious point was that Laver, Rosewall and Rafter all won SLAMS and were acknowledged as great players. Nick hasn't done diddly in his career yet. You entirely missed my point.

Kyrgios plays on the current Tour. The comment is about the current Tour. Tennis is different to 15 years ago, and wayyy different from 40 years ago. Slams don't mean **** for being qualified to speak on this subject. What they should do is to ask other players on the current ATP Tour from other parts of the world.

 

[Chadillac]

He played 48 matches last year. One every 7.6 days, he is 22 and complaining. What a puss

 

[Purplemonster]

Well this is interesting and something I agree with, Kyrgios calls for more Australian tournaments and echoes Murray's comments that the tour calendar is too long.



http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/...r-to-offset-arduous-tour-20180101-h0c3re.html

Poor guy spent 4 months on the road away from his family making money. He chose to be a tennis player, surely he knew this would happen. Spare a thought for doctors/medical workers who travel to third world countries to treat sick people, at times risking their own lives. This guy has no perspective on life.

Little wonder he is disliked by so many people.

 

[Roddick85]

The schedule will never be reduced. $$$ is what it's all about, not common sense.

 

[noobforehand20]

i do enjoy this time of the year for the australian tournaments, shame its only 2-3 months long in actual tournament play, if there were more, great i love being up all night watching tennis in the quietness and loneliness of the night...

 

[Otacon]

I agree with you about the country not needing more, but I think that the Australian Open does get the short end of the stick for warmup period compared to Roland Garros or the US Open. They both have six weeks or so of warmup events. True, Wimbledon only has three, but even that's one more than the Australian, and there's the issue of the cost of grass-court events. I think it'd be ideal if the Australian Open were at the end of March, with Indian Wells and Miami moved forward to February so that they could serve as warm-ups for it. But I'm not sure whether the weather in Palm Springs or Miami in February would be suitable. I doubt it'd be too cold, but it might be too wet, at least in Florida. I'd be surprised if there were a rainy season in the California desert.

There's not much difference really

http://www.holiday-weather.com/miami/averages/
http://www.holiday-weather.com/palm_springs/averages/

 

[cc0509]

Kyrgios, just get out on the tennis court and do what you're supposed to do, i.e. beat the old codgers already and win something worth talking about!

 

[justasport]

I love Australia and the Australian open, but no there are enough warmup events in Australia before the open starts. That's all you need. In my opinion Indian Wells and Miami should be off the calendar too. Why you ask? Well, is there a more important hard court tournament before the clay court season starts then the Australian open? The answer is no. So why continue to play on hard courts after the Australian open instead giving the players all of February and March off to rest and train for the grueling April, May, and June clay court season immediately followed by the grass. Get rid of Dubai, Rotterdam, Indian Wells, and Miami and let these guys have two months off to rest and train for the clay and grass back to back. To make that up you could combine Queens and Halle into a Masters 1000 and play it two weeks prior to Wimbledon and that way we would have a Masters 1000 on grass and there would still be a week for the players to rest before Wimbledon. Get rid of Stuttgart and little crap money making events like that and give grass what it deserves and has wanted for years. Pick the best place between Queens and Halle and have your tournament.

 

[justasport]

I'd go with the venue that has a roof, so you know you will get the event done in a weeks time.

 

[EloQuent]

Get rid of Dubai, Rotterdam, Indian Wells, and Miami and let these guys have two months off to rest and train for the clay and grass back to back.

Better yet, leave them and get rid of the clay season.

 

[yokied]

I understand there are too many tournaments Nick, but as an Aussie even I can't go along with the idea of more Australian tournaments. It won't change anything for you.

Nick, because your name is not Thiem, you don't actually need to play all of them. Play the Slams, M1000s and whatever else appeals, leave the rest. Nick's problem is he lacks the consistency and mental strength to win slams and M1000s so his only winning chance is 250 and 500 level, so he has to enter basically everything. Then he feels overwhelmed when he gets injured and gives up. He's probably the most poorly advised player on the tour. His coach or lack thereof, schedule, fitness work, attitude - it all needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

As others have said, STFU and go to work.