Russeljones
Talk Tennis Guru
The article from The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...lked-out-on-centre-court-thinking-i-could-win
I apologize in advance that the author did not heap praise on Djokovic, the 2014 Wimbledon champion.
Barely a week after beating then-world number one Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios is ensconced in a warm hotel in Canberra while the rest of the city hurries to work in near-freezing temperatures. It might not be as exciting as London but the 19-year-old is grateful for a bit of calm after the storm as he recovers from a demanding tournament schedule.
“It’s good being home, relaxing and coming down from such a high,” says Kyrgios. “It is so emotionally draining coming back from something like Wimbledon, you really have nothing left in the tank – I gave everything.”
It is hardly surprising that the imposing 193cm (6'4") athlete is exhausted. Kyrgios was forced to battle past his initial opponent Stephane Robert in four sets, with three going to tie-breaks, before saving nine match points against Richard Gasquet at the All England Club. His second-round performance was particularly noteworthy because the Australian came from two sets down against the No13 seed and was icily composed as a correct Hawkeye challenge saved him in the fifth match point.
Kyrgios’s confident and aggressive style of play continued unabated, dispatching Czech Jiri Vesely to set up a fourth round encounter with Nadal. If ever there was a time when the Australian’s composure was going to be tested to breaking point, this was it. Yet, when queried before the game as to whether he could overcome the five-time Wimbledon finalist, Kyrgios replied affirmatively “with the matter-of-factness of someone being asked if they would like sugar in their coffee”.
Defeat Nadal he did, hitting 37 aces in a performance that saw Kyrgios’s name etched into the record books as the first male player ranked outside the top 100 to vanquish a world number one in a Grand Slam since 1992. Even more remarkable was that his opponent, the left-hander from Mallorca, did not have a particularly poor outing – hitting 44 winners and conceding just 18 unforced errors. Nadal did not lose the game; rather Kyrgios’s power and determination swept the Spaniard aside.
Asked to reflect on the match, Kyrgios responds with an aura of such confidence that some might mistake his self-belief for arrogance, an often fine line among sports professionals.
But such an observation would be erroneous, because the humble 19-year-old’s reply betrays no egotistical superiority, merely the self-assurance of someone playing without fear.
“As crazy as it sounds, I walked out on centre court thinking I could definitely win the match,” he says. “I knew that if I served well and played the right style of game I could pull off an upset. Especially when I was two sets to one up I really thought I just had to play one more good set to take it out. And then the fourth was probably the best tennis I’ve ever played!”
Kyrgios did not have long to bask in glory however, with inclement weather condensing the tournament schedule and forcing the youngster to face Milos Raonic less than 24 hours later.
Despite a spirited effort that saw Kyrgios win the first set, the mental and physical fatigue proved too much as Raonic overpowered his younger opponent.
While Kyrgios admits a longer break could have improved his chances – “It was definitely tough. If I’d had that extra day of rest I think I would have been more likely to win” – he’s not trying to make excuses. “That’s the reality of grand slams, sometimes if the rain doesn’t hold you have to back it up. I can’t control the weather.”
Now back in Canberra, Kyrgios has been enjoying time with his close-knit family, whom he openly credits for his success.
“They have played a massive role. The amount of sacrifices my family have made – when I was young bringing me to tennis, helping me out with my school schedule – they’ve been really important.”
Despite some concerns that Kyrgios’s rapid rise could send him off the rails, with comparisons drawn to Bernard Tomic, his mother Norlaila is confident that his older siblings will “keep him in line”.
The youngest of three, Kyrgios was quick to echo this sentiment: “I definitely think my family will help keep me grounded and I know that you can’t get too ahead of yourself.”
Kyrgios also has family to thank for his decision to ultimately pursue tennis over basketball, his other sporting passion.
“I think my Dad was pretty big on me playing tennis so he sort of pushed me to that side,” Kyrgios says. “But I still play basketball whenever I can and I’m never going to lose my passion for it.”
He occasionally stops to admire the basketballers in action at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and admits a desire to join in from time to time.
“When I’m down training for tennis, sometimes I go in [to the basketball courts] and just look around,” Kyrgios comments. “I’m probably no longer good enough to play with those guys as they are much taller than me and more athletic, but I’m sure I could hold my own for a little bit.”
The 19-year-old will be able indulge his love of basketball when he visits the sport’s spiritual home in August. However, with the purpose of his American trip to compete at the US Open, tennis is perhaps more likely to be at the forefront of Kyrgios’s mind.
“I had a great time there last year, qualifying and then playing David Ferrer in the first round,” he says. “That was a really good experience and hopefully this time I can win a couple of rounds or, if not, just put in a solid performance.”
While Kyrgios has demonstrated his ability to slay the giants of world tennis, the 19-year-old knows that countless more hours are needed on the training court and that a first round exit at Flushing Meadows could see his ranking abruptly plateau.
“I’m 66 in the world at the moment so there’s obviously a lot of room for improvement,” Kyrgios says. “I need to keep working hard – there are a lot of areas I still need to develop and that’s going to be the motivation to keep going.”
Victory over Nadal may be just the first of many challenges that lie ahead of Kyrgios on the long and often lonely road to the top. Yet surrounded by a dedicated family and possessing an formidable arsenal on the court, Kyrgios seems to have the physical and mental potential to become one of the best in the world. And perhaps even lift that famous trophy at the All England Club along the way.
“I think my ultimate goal is getting to number one but winning Wimbledon would be pretty extraordinary.”
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...lked-out-on-centre-court-thinking-i-could-win
I apologize in advance that the author did not heap praise on Djokovic, the 2014 Wimbledon champion.
