The wonder of Nick Kyrgios: How Aussie star is the most watchable player in tennis

Tennis Australia has lost a significant amount of money through the pandemic. Now, the chance to recoup some lost earnings. So the $2m question. What to do with Nick Kyrgios?

The last time Nick Kyrgios walked on to Rod Laver Arena he wore Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers singlet after the NBA star’s tragic death in 2020.

“I wore his shirt the day he died at the Australian Open and cried during that day,” Kyrgios said later that year.

“I watch basketball every day and it is an important part of my life. I can never imitate what Kobe did – but there may be times in my life when I try.”

Try he did on Tuesday night, with the most watchable performance of the Australian Open first round.

RECAP ALL THE ACTION FROM DAY 2 OF THE OPEN

Nick Kyrgios is tennis’ great entertainer. Picture: Michael Klein

Novak who? Kyrgios might just be the sport’s most watchable player, and that’s no Djoke.

Buddy Franklin bombs goals from the boundary or the centre square with equal astonishment and Glenn Maxwell fries bowlers’ brains with lap sweeps.

Sam Kerr celebrates her super strikes with backflips while the NFL has $503m USD man Patrick Mahomes.

They are all box-office. Marquee matchwinners who play with more than a touch of magic, and they put bums on seats … and dollars in the bank.

Pat Mahomes is one of the NFL’s biggest drawcards. Picture: Getty Images

Lance Franklin might be the AFL’s greatest ever showman. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The soundtrack to their success should be Robbie Williams’ ‘Let Me Entertain You’.

That’s exactly what Kobe did, and Kyrgios does.

He is like a nonfiction Happy Gilmore, a booming backhand return and roaring serve his signature moves, instead of a 400-yard drive.

The brio of Kyrgios was in full swing on Tuesday night when he casually curled a ball through his legs to set up another winner in a 6-4 6-4 6-3 blitz of Liam Broady.

It was backyard or exhibition stuff executed on the Grand Slam stage.

“I don’t know what I’ve done to this crowd because you guys are a zoo now,” Kyrgios laughed afterwards.

So many of the game’s elite are mundane on and off the court. Our Aussie has the X-Factor that administrators dream about.

Kyrgios creates an intangible edge at John Cain Arena. The energy he generates is invaluable, but that fades on Rod Laver Arena.

It’s why Wednesday’s schedule announcement has one $2 million question. Do Tennis Australia chiefs grant Kyrgios a home ground edge for Thursday’s blockbuster showdown with No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev?

Or do they deliver fans who have forked out far more coin the blockbuster match-up they undoubtedly wish to witness?

Remaining tickets to RLA on Thursday night start at the steep price of $260. Those wandering in to Melbourne Park with a ground pass will get change from $30 … and access to the rollicking’ John Cain Arena.

That’s a total possible revenue of about $1.85 million versus $165,000, which would barely cover the cost of one of the 20-something private chartered jets Tennis Australia forked out so players could arrive in style.

Kyrgios v Daniil Medvedev might end up being the most-anticipated clash of the Australian Open … in the second round. Picture: Getty Images

Boy, talk about getting bang for buck if the Kyrgios-Medvedev takes centre stage … by not going ahead on centre court.

Last year No.3 seed Dominic Thiem attempted in vain to have his Round 3 match against Kyrgios relocated off JCA.

But King Nick wasn’t confident on Tuesday night he would be back at his happy place on Thursday night.

Kyrgios is a blue-collar wizard. The mercurial shot-maker feeds off the regular punters who provide a buffet of energy.

RLA is more for the white-collar types. Think of the stuffy corporates who prefer to sip champagne, scroll through emails and wander in and out at the change of ends rather than raise the roof with boisterous behaviour.

“Are you too good for your home?” Nick, like Happy, is prone to the odd blow up while competing.

Kyrgios boasts a commanding 12-3 record on his home court and since 2019 he is 6-1 but expected to be relocated for his Round 2 match.

Geelong coach Chris Scott might sympathise with him. Scott hates that his club is forced to host AFL finals at the MCG instead of down the highway, where the skinny wings make for a big advantage.

Well, tennis wasn’t designed for home ground advantages within a Grand Slam, when the exact same surfaces are used.

But Kyrgios is a different beast. Even the chair umpire had a giggle at Nick’s theatrics.

In the second set the Canberra kid booted a tennis ball away footy-style, wiped beads of sweat off his trimmed eyebrows with another ball and then used it to slam down an ace to close out his fifth game.

Kyrgios diehards had to sit through five sets of Andy Murray grinding his opponent into the blue plexicushion at JCA to reserve their seat for the Covid recoverer’s crushing win on Tuesday night.

Kyrgios will back it up when he pairs with good mate Thanasi Kokkinakis in a doubles match on Wednesday.

But those same fans should get their wallets ready if they want another look at Kyrgios the main event, because it sounds like they will have to spend money instead of time for a look at the crowd favourite when he takes on the mild-mannered Russian on Thursday night.