Why Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios’ good far outweighs his bad despite what critics will say

We’ve all seen the bling, outrageous haircuts, tattoos and slits in his eyebrows but who is the real Nick Kyrgios? Meet our Dennis Rodman.

Not sure if Nick Kyrgios or Happy Gilmore?

Few people really know Nick Kyrgios.

Outsiders think they do, as they do with most celebrities and athletes. They watch him, they hear him, they judge him, they praise him, they criticise him.

As Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas puts it: “There are many people who hate him and many other people who love him. There’s no middle ground.”

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Nick Kyrgios fits in some practice at Xavier College this week ahead of the Australian Open. Picture: Tennis Australia

Tsitsipas lightheartedly refers to Kyrgios as the “black sheep” of the ATP Tour, following the phrase with a knowing laugh that it would spread like wildfire through global media outlets.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic probably has sterner descriptions in private.

Another Greek sporting export, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, even jokingly labelled Kyrgios the “Dennis Rodman of tennis”.

Anything juicy like that about Kyrgios sells. In fact, anything at all about Kyrgios sells. Various data over the years ranks him as Australia’s most marketable athlete.

And on the topic of who knows what, something only Kyrgios can reveal is how much of his rock star image on and off-court is reality versus show.

Either way, his public reputation – whatever that means to you – is so deeply entrenched that it would be hard to break character, anyway.

The 25-year-old Canberran sometimes offers a peak at his more vulnerable side and there’s always the suspicion the bling, outrageous haircuts, tattoos and slits in his eyebrows are just a mask.

We see Kyrgios’ extensive charity work, how he interacts with kids and those far less fortunate, his affection towards his tight-knit family, and the way he embraces fans (even taking into account the “I don’t owe you anything” line).

The other undeniable fact is how highly those close to him speak of him and his generosity.

Talking to the Herald Sun from hotel quarantine on Friday, one of the things fellow tennis star Alex de Minaur was most looking forward to was going out for dinner with Kyrgios.

“Nick is like a big brother to me. I’ve been able to get to know him through Davis Cup and he’s one of the most selfless guys out there,” de Minaur said.

Australian tennis stars Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios have become close friends. Picture: Craig Golding/AAP Image

“He’s that one person you always want in your team. He’s going to always have your back.”

One of Kyrgios’ closest confidantes, fellow player Matt Reid, has watched his relationship with de Minaur blossom from close range.

Reid remembers Kyrgios going out of his way to help de Minaur when the then-teenager first entered the Davis Cup fold, at a time Kyrgios was on the verge of the top 10.

“Nick acts like one of your brothers and he’s brought a lot of us together at Davis Cup ties and instilled a lot of belief, especially in ‘Demon’,” Reid said.

“He’d get ‘Demon’ to play first to 11 (points) again and again and Nick would win, but at the team dinners, here was a guy in the top 20 telling him he was too good for Challengers.

“Then when ‘Demon’ won his first Challenger, we all had a group chat and Nick was like, ‘You’ve won that, now it’s time to get where you belong’ and I know he appreciated that.”

Matt Reid (left) knows Nick Kyrgios as well as anyone. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP Image

What we do know is that Kyrgios with a racquet in hand is tennis’ answer to a weapon of mass destruction (in more ways than one).

One clip that emerged this week from Kyrgios’ mini-training camp with Sydneysiders Jordan Thompson and Reid in Canberra summed this up perfectly.

Thompson and Kyrgios were engaged in an engrossing baseline exchange until Thompson, on the back foot, gave his sparring partner an opening.

Kyrgios never needs a second invitation. With little footwork, he laconically hammered a crosscourt forehand winner. Thompson didn’t even have time to step towards it.

Not just in practice but in key moments in matches, he’ll slap an audacious shot or unnecessary ‘tweener’ between his legs that produces the extraordinary – or other times an ugly unforced error.

It’s those circus shots that make him box-office viewing and Australia’s answer to entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nick Kyrgios is one of the most exciting tennis players in the world. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“He’s a freak,” fellow Australian player John Millman said this week of Kyrgios.

“He’s got one of the best serves in the world and that allows him to play really free from the back of the court. He’s really dangerous when he’s doing that.”

Not long ago, grand slam great John McEnroe even rated Kyrgios “the most talented guy I have seen in, perhaps, 10 years on the court”.

There was, of course, the ‘but’ that almost always follows a Kyrgios compliment. He doesn’t do this and he doesn’t do that. The critics don’t have to look far to pick holes.

Kyrgios has a checkered past filled with colourful language, crude remarks, broken racquets, poor decisions and at-times questionable effort.

His opinionated social media posts and lashing of his peers also divide opinion, but are increasingly warmly received. The average fan relates more to him than, say, Bernard Tomic.

Kyrgios’ rap sheet might be long and leave a bad taste in the mouth of tennis purists, but in a sport screaming out for more thriller and less vanilla – he’s your man.

Nick Kyrgios is always entertaining. Picture: Michael Klein

He is the real-life Happy Gilmore, the hockey player who turns to golf to pay the bills and is like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, except in Kyrgios’ case he’s a wannabe basketballer.

You could even imagine the following dialogue from the hit movie being said about Kyrgios.

Shooter McGavin: “But he’s a disgrace to the game!”

Doug Thompson: “You may be right. But, our ratings are up and we’re attracting new, youthful sponsors.”

The ATP Tour released advertising material late last year that wonderfully meshed the Kyrgios package, including evocative celebrations, trick shots, colourful outfits and an emotion-charged racquet toss.

The key line? “Are you not entertained?” You bet we are.