Nick Kyrgios is in danger of being lost to tennis

A LEADING sports psychologist has assessed troubled Aussie star Nick Kyrgios and believes one particular weakness is threatening his career.

Kyrgios’ struggles are obvious.

LEADING sports psychologist Jeff Bond has provided an incredible evaluation of Nick Kyrgios following the troubled star’s five set implosion against Andreas Seppi on Wednesday night.

Bond, who helped Aussie Wimbledon champion Pat Cash reach the top of the sport, says Kyrgios’ “rollercoaster” personality cycle is a serious threat to the longevity of the 21-year-old’s career.

In a wide-ranging assessment, Bond said:

— Kyrgios needs to employ a full-time sports psychologist to become part of his team and travel with him on the ATP Tour

— Kyrgios needs to take a break from the game to address his issues and work with a psychologist intensively before returning to the sport

— Kyrgios’ entourage may be harmful to his mental state

— Kyrgios’ rollercoaster personality will eventually force him to walk away from the sport if it is not professionally addressed; and

— A sports psychologist may recommend for Kyrgios to retire from the sport in order to protect himself from further emotional and mental pain.

Bond, who has also previously worked with Olympic champions during his 22 years at the Australian Institute of Sport, said it appears Kyrgios’ issues have nothing to do with tennis and believes the young talent’s self-destructive tendencies are a symptom of personal issues.

He says Kyrgios appears to be trying to compensate for a perceived inadequacy in his personal life by trying to validate himself through tennis and his life in the spotlight. He said Kyrgios appears to be looking to validate himself to overcome his personal issues, but then drops off the deep end when he reaches the top and realises he does not feel any better about himself.

Kyrgios just can’t get it together.

“He has to do something otherwise it’s going to be a rollercoaster,” Bond said.

“I’d suggest he’s a ticking time bomb right now. It’s not a matter of will it happen, it’s a matter of when.

“From an athlete’s point of view, you can only take so much of that rollercoaster before you think, ‘To hell with this, I’ll go and do something else’. When someone asked him about getting booed by the crowd, I think that cut him a bit. I think that hurt him. You can only take so much of that before you say, ‘To hell with it. This is too much. I’m going to back off and back out’.

“Unless he does something in a reasonably serious manner and commits himself to it, I reckon his future in the game has to be pretty suspect.

“It doesn’t sort itself out until they come to terms with themselves. It has nothing to do with sport.”

Bond also said Kyrgios’ extensive entourage of friends that become part of his preparation and training team during events may also be having a harmful impact on his mental stability.

He said the financial burden of providing for and paying for friends to become part of his team may be putting stress on the young star to perform.

He said the number of ‘yes men’ surrounding the Australian is also unhealthy and detracts from his training and preparation.

Bond believes Kyrgios would be best served culling his entourage and replacing them with a full-time coach, a full-time strength and conditioning trainer and a full-time sports psychologist.