Disturbing proof Nick Kyrgios and his ego are living a lie

Nick Kyrgios has complained once again the world is against him after another meltdown, but the tennis star refuses to accept the truth.

OPINION

There’s a lot of good about Nick Kyrgios.

His best tennis is exhilarating to watch and he can entertain like no other player on tour.

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The Aussie star should also be admired for the work he does with disadvantaged kids via his charity, the NK Foundation. Anyone who’s seen him take time out to mingle with young fans at the Australian Open, sign autographs and pose for selfies knows deep down, his heart is in the right place.

He was at it again in Miami, giving his time to adoring fans in the precinct and even allowing a court invader to take a selfie with him on Wednesday.

But for all the good, it’s the bad and the ugly that too often overshadow the Kyrgios show.

After losing it at chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during his quarter-final loss to Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells earlier this month, Kyrgios was at it again at the Miami Open. He exploded at Bernardes once more, ridiculing his ability and demanding the official be sacked on the spot and replaced with someone better.

Kyrgios continued his tirade on social media and when facing the press, refusing to apologise for a childish outburst that was condemned by tennis fans as he showed no hint of remorse.

“When everyone in the crowd is booing an umpire and he is becoming the centre of attention, that is not his job. No one in the stadium came to see him talk or do what he does,” Kyrgios told AFP.

“You’ve got Jannik Sinner who is one of our greatest stars and, not to toot my horn, the majority of people are there to watch me play.

“And you have a guy talking while I was 40-0 up. He was talking. I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ The crowd actually hated him that much they told him to be quiet.

“If you are getting booed by the crowd you are not doing a good job.

“He made it about himself and apparently his feelings were hurt from what I said and the crowd said. You can’t be like that if you’re an umpire.”

Nick Kyrgios was absolutely filthy. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Kyrgios believes he gets treated unfairly compared to other players, referencing the criticism he copped for nearly hitting a ballkid after smashing his racquet at Indian Wells.

“I don’t think it’s fair and I hate bringing the same things up all the time. But (Denis) Shapovalov nailed a ball in someone’s eyeball (during a Davis Cup match in 2017) and got fined $5000. I threw a racquet at Indian Wells and didn’t even hit anyone and got $25,000,” Kyrgios said.

“Where is the balance? How much do I bring to the sport? That’s the problem with tennis — it doesn’t protect our stars at all. We love to outcast them.

“I have one incident where I threw a racquet which didn’t hit anyone, I know it can be dangerous but I went back the next day and apologised to the kid. He will remember that for the rest of his life.”

Meanwhile, Kyrgios said Bernardes would get “a slap on the wrist” for a “horrendous” performance. “The ATP won’t do anything about him,” he said.

The irony — and even hypocrisy — is clear. Kyrgios criticised Bernardes for apparently wanting to be the “centre of attention” but through his own behaviour, it’s the 26-year-old who seeks the spotlight.

Kyrgios came under fire for suggesting more people came to watch himself and Thanasi Kokkinakis than Ash Barty at the Australian Open. Repeatedly spruiking how tennis should be thankful for his presence — without focusing on the obvious negatives associated with his behaviour — exposes a deluded sense of his own self-importance.

The players themselves are undoubtedly the reason fans come to watch — no one is disputing that — but without umpires then tennis would cease to exist. That goes for any sport.

To continually treat officials with such disrespect not only sets a terrible example to youngsters, it also risks putting people off ever wanting to become tennis umpires, threatening the future of the sport.

What Kyrgios is yet to understand is you can still be entertaining without acting like a jerk.

As we saw at the Australian Open without Novak Djokovic, the sport is bigger than any one player. Kyrgios doesn’t seem to understand that.

Kyrgios lost his cool … again. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

His racquets often cop a battering. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Kyrgios has become more confident in recent times speaking about his struggles with mental health. He knows better than most the adverse affect negative headlines and reaction can have on a person.

He’s said repeatedly he believes the media focuses only on the bad, and not on the good. Few in Australian sport have had to deal with the scrutiny he has.

That means he should know better. What regard did he show for Bernardes’ mental health by screaming at him in full public view, belittling his ability and suggesting anyone else could do a better job?

What regard did Kyrgios show for Bernardes’ mental health when he mocked the Brazilian on Twitter, suggesting he received a code violation because the “umpire’s feelings got hurt”?

Tennis loves so much of what Kyrgios can bring to the court, but it shouldn’t tolerate his treatment of umpires. For too long the Canberran has pinned blame on officials merely trying to do their jobs.

The only reason they’ve become the centre of attention is because Kyrgios’ temper has put them there.

Originally published as Disturbing proof Nick Kyrgios and his ego are living a lie