Australian tennis legend Rod Laver wants Nick Kyrgios to become the best player in the world

NICK Kyrgios has the tools on hand to be the best player in the world — and Aussie legend Rod Laver desperately wants him to reach his full potential. Vote: Can Nick win a grand slam?

NICK Kyrgios has the tools on hand to be the best player in the world, according to a man who many consider to be the best to have ever played the game.

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver was at Melbourne Park today to unveil a new statue that stands in front of the arena named in his honour, and said that he would love nothing more than to see Kyrgios — currently ranked 13th in the world — get to the top.

“Ability-wise, he could be the best tennis player in the world,” the 11-time grand slam winner said.

“And only he is the one that gets in his way. Looking at maybe maturity — he’s still only (21 years old). He’s still very young on the world tour.

“I want him to be the best player in the world. We need another great Australian champion.”

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, at melbourne Park on Thursday to unveil a larger-than-life statue of himself, indicates how much he wants Nick Kyrgios to succeed. Picture: AAP

Kyrgios has been performing strongly at this week’s Hopman Cup in Perth, and will take on good friend and American young gun Jack Sock tonight.

FUN: Kyrgios to ‘keep it loose’ in Hopman Cup

It is the Canberran’s first event since his season ended in October when he was banned for three weeks by the ATP “for not giving his best effort” on the proviso that he be counselled on the issue.

He has since been working with a psychologist, revealing this week that the move was to “to learn a bit more about myself and obviously just trying to figure out ways to enjoy the sport a little bit more and just enjoy the grind of it” having previously expressed that he doesn’t “love” the sport.

Rod Laver says Nick Kyrgios, still young, has the ability to be the best in the world. Picture: Getty Images

Laver said Kyrgios — who made the last eight at Wimbledon in 2014 and at the 2015 Australian Open — is currently on a steep learning curve and that great responsibility comes with representing Australia on the world stage.

“He plays some magnificent tennis, but then something gets in the way and he finds himself being challenged by other things, whether it’s behaviour or whatever seems to come up,” he said.

“If it’s competition that isn’t going his way, how do you get out of it? It’s a learning curve in the game of tennis.

“I didn’t throw my racquet heaps (when I played), but disappointment … maybe I took mine inward.”

Laver’s new statue is the result of 18 months of work for artist Lis Johnson, who worked closely with the former world No.1 to achieve the likeness in the famous pose that depicts the now-78 year old’s famous backhand.