Nick Kyrgios opens up about his change in attitude, foundation and how Lleyton Hewitt helped him rebound from a tough 2017

THERE has been a noticeable change in Nick Kyrgios’ on-court attitude that has won over fans which can be related to his work with under-privleged children, as LEO SCHLINK discovers.

Nick Kyrgios celebrates his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Picture: AP Photo

STRIPPED bare, Nick Kyrgios concedes the inner rebel will always hold sway.

Under stress, like every other athlete on the planet, he will react to pressure in his way, regardless of circumstance, regardless of consequence.

Often volcanically.

Smiling wryly at new-found media and public perception around his growth and maturity, Kyrgios embraces the irony.

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Damned for being a prat, often with justification, he now shies from descriptions he has suddenly morphed into an imperturbable svengali. At 22.

“It doesn’t worry me at all. It’s not something I wake up and I’m like ‘Look, today I’m going to try to change the perception’,” he said.

“I’ve always played the same way. Nothing has changed. I’ve always been emotional.

“Yeah, I feel like I’ve always been a caring person. I guess it’s just how you guys perceive it.”

Nick Kyrgios celebrates after his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Picture: AP Photo

For all Kyrgios’ deflection, there is a marked change in his off-court demeanour.

Those close to him — and those outside his tight inner circle — have noticed it, too.

There are those who ascribe to a leopards and spots theory with Kyrgios. That when on-court pressures reach breaking point, so will the combustible Canberran.

Jim Courier believes Kyrgios’ involvement in a foundation for under-privileged youth is one of the factors behind the firebrand’s increasing stability.

Pointing to the transformation Andre Agassi underwent — from vilified punk to revered grand slam-winning statesman — Courier senses Kyrgios also has discovered meaning.

“I think the NK Foundation has given him purpose,” said Courier, a Channel 7 commentator at the Open.

“He’s handling situations better, coping better under stress.

“If you look at the back half of Andre Agassi’s career, when he was able to direct his energy and thoughts into his foundation, he also had a purpose and had the best years of his career.”

Bracing for a brutal clash on Sunday night with Bulgarian enforcer Grigor Dimitrov, Kyrgios has certainly handled adversity better this season than in previous years.

Winning — he is unbeaten in seven starts in 2018 — covers a multitude of sins, but there is ample evidence to suggest he is more at peace with himself.

Nick Kyrgios shares a moment with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after his big win. Picture: AP Photo

His clash with tough Serb Victor Troicki mid-week was an assignment in resilience.

There was a belligerently disruptive fan, who was eventually ejected by security, a helicopter hovering above the court for much of the second set and a misfiring public address system which added another distracting dimension.

Kyrgios, now into his sixth grand slam season, passed with flying colours.

“I think last year, the year before, I probably would have been still out on the court right now, could be losing that match,” Kyrgios said post-match.

Before the tournament, Kyrgios spoke exclusively to the Sunday Herald Sun of the importance of the NK Foundation and how it inspires.

“It’s massive for me to have a foundation like that, I’ve been wanting to do something like this since I was about 19,” he said.

“To have my own place where kids or people could just come or sort of live or pick a sport they wanted to play.

“Doing well at tournaments obviously is massive. The cash is a big thing to go into the foundation.

“Obviously they’re (kids) going to be watching and watching me play and that’s going to be motivation for them, I think, whichever sport they chose.

“To see the person whose foundation it is doing well, the culture would be awesome.”

Now on the cusp of a career-high ranking — and third major quarter-final — Kyrgios remains something of a lone wolf.

Nick Kyrgios was in his element at the Australian Open kids tennis day. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Still without a formal coach after splitting with Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, Kyrgios relies on doubles partner Matt Reid and Lleyton Hewitt’s backing.

While it is unconventional in the eyes of most, Kyrgios says it works.

His results, so far at least, this season would seem to support the view.

Asked about the impact of Hewitt’s Davis Cup network, Kyrgios said: “It’s been huge for me. Especially last year after the Australian Open, I was really struggling mentally.

“He (Hewitt) called me up and said ‘We would love to have you in Davis Cup.’

“Ever since then, the culture has been amazing.

“I think it’s helped guys like (Alex) de Minaur have the summer he had. I know he lost first round here. He had a tough draw. The summer, that was amazing.

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“I think honestly it’s the culture. We’re a close-knit group now. We all help each other. Those Davis Cup weeks, I’ve got one eye on it. I can’t wait for it in a couple weeks.”

Agassi believes Kyrgios would benefit from hiring a full-time coach.

“To go it alone and not get access to things tried and lessons learned is an unforced error. But having no coach is better than having the wrong coach,” Agassi said last week.

Kyrgios beat world No. 3 Dimitrov during a spectacular surge to the Brisbane title.

That win was a best-of-three-set contest. The Australian Open has a marathon format, which is right in Dimitrov’s wheelhouse.

Grigor Dimitrov will be a tough fourth round opponent for Kyrgios. Picture: AAP Images

A multiple grand slam semi-finalist, Dimitrov has not peaked — yet — at Melbourne Park.

“You don’t win slams in the first week. I mean, simple as that,” Dimitrov said.

“How I win right now, I love it. I mean, on days that you don’t feel the best, those are the matches that count a lot.

“The bigger upside is it can only get better from now. Hopefully the next match I can be even better.”

But Kyrgios, who will achieve a career-high ranking of No 12 with victory, is singing from the same hymn sheet.

“I made quarter-finals here three years ago I think. I feel like I’m making improvements,” Kyrgios said.

“The last couple years I feel like I haven’t been physically ready to play these long matches and back it up.

“I did a really good off-season this year. I trained with Lleyton and the guys in Melbourne for two weeks. Physically I feel really good. Just gives me confidence in my game.

“I know mentally I’m a lot better, as well.”

What shapes as a supreme test of mind and body will reveal just how much better.