John McEnroe’s relentless attack on Nick Kyrgios

THE original SuperBrat John McEnroe launched an attack on Nick Kyrgios during his match with Andy Murray at the US Open.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 01: Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts against Andy Murray of Great Britain during their Men's Singles First Round match on day two of the 2015 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for the USTA)

IF THERE was one former tennis player you would think could relate to Nick Kyrgios and his bad-boy antics, it would be the original SuperBrat John McEnroe.

Clearly not.

Commentating for ESPN today, McEnroe unleashed a relentless attack on the Australian during his 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1 loss to world No. 3 Andy Murray.

Kyrgios was his usual wild self on Arthur Ashe Stadium, throwing racquets, whingeing to the umpire and looking at times like he’d rather be anywhere else on Earth.

Moments later the 20-year-old would bomb an ace or unload on a forehand winner, showing everyone just what he is capable of.

Then it would be another brain snap, like an ill-advised tweener shot on his way into the net with Murray stretched at the other end of the court.

I do not understand those 2 crazy shot that game from Kyrgios especially the half volley tweener at deuce

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 2, 2015

Many will argue McEnroe is hypocritical to criticise Kyrgios for his behaviour given the American is as much remembered for his “You cannot be serious” rants as for his seven grand slam titles.

McEnroe is spot on about the antics of @NickKyrgios - but dude, you are the poster child of bad antics on the court! pic.twitter.com/SxrslmNiqx

— Ollie Taylor (@OZTaylored) September 2, 2015

But the bottom line is Johnny Mac says it how he sees it. And this is how he saw it today.

“You don’t want to be remembered as a clown. You want to be remembered as a player,” McEnroe said of Kyrgios.

“I hope he learns from these bonehead moves. He should be a seed already, at least 20.

“So he better step up. Otherwise he won’t be talked about too much.

“He’s like a Vaudeville entertainer, the schtick is getting old.”

After the tweener shot gone wrong, McEnroe had a message for Lleyton Hewitt who was watching court-side in his new position as mentor.

“Absolute stupidity by Nick,” McEnroe said. “If I was Lleyton I’d walk out.”

McEnroe suggested Kyrgios may have been suffering from arthritis, judging by his lacklustre effort in getting down to volley.

Speaking to the assembled press after the loss, Kyrgios defended himself.

“I don’t think any of us in this room were perfect at 20. Speak up if you were. Thought so,” Kyrgios said.

Mcenroe just said looks like kyrgios has arthritis in his knees! Does not bend on half volleys! #usopen #arthritis #iknowadoctor

— billy V (@belekoy1) September 2, 2015

McEnroe fully hating on Kyrgios. Saying he's running around like he has arthritis.

— Rachel Bird (@TheSportBird) September 2, 2015

Not everyone was hating on Kyrgios, though, with popular American sports journalist Bill Simmons saying he enjoyed the craziness.

I like watching Kyrgios - he's like one of those crazy/unpredictable people on Hollywood Boulevard, only if they were in the U.S. Open.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) September 2, 2015

The US Open’s official Twitter account even appreciated some of the theatrics, like Kyrgios’ microsleep after losing the first set 7-5.

After dropping the first set, Kyrgios needed a minute. #usopen pic.twitter.com/8hdVmZatTi

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2015

Kyrgios leapt to the defence of his fellow young Australians — Bernard Tomic, who has his own impressive rap-sheet, and Thanasi Kokkinakis, the man caught up in the Montreal sledge affair.

“Bernard, he’s harmless. He’s just a normal kid. I don’t really understand where he gets this reputation from, or where I get it from at all,” pleaded Kyrgios.

“We show emotion out there. We might not be the most usual tennis players you see. Somehow we got this reputation that’s just ridiculous.”

On his decision to wear a compression sleeve on one arm: “I just wear it because I like it. It’s not against the rules.”

What has he learned from his recent trials?

“Keep your mouth shut at times.”

And that incident when he appeared to nod off after the first set?

“Just taking a nap, I guess. It’s good for you.”

Murray has been a long-time defender of Kyrgios and has asked for the Australian to be cut some slack.

The Scot admitted that he finds some of Kyrgios’s antics amusing. “All the matches we have played, there have been a couple points where I have laughed on the court or smiled because some of the stuff is funny,” said the third seed.

Nick Kyrgios only showed glimpses of what he is truly capable of.

“I mean, when he let go of the racquet today after the forehand, I mean, that only happens to him. Went into the crowd. I mean, yeah, that’s funny when you’re playing against him.”

It was Murray’s fourth win in four meetings against the sport’s new bogeyman and third in three grand slam match-ups this year.

The Brit, who has made at least the quarter-finals in New York every year since 2010, goes on to tackle France’s Adrian Mannarino for a spot in the last 32.

Kyrgios was recently hit with a suspended ban 28-day ban that is only enforced if he misbehaves at ATP events over the next six months.

But the ban does not apply to grand slams, so Kyrgios was free to do as he pleased in New York.

So it was no surprise that the first profanity from the Australian came after just four games of the first set, when he complained about fans taking their seats during points.

As well as his questionable verbal dexterity, Kyrgios showed that he can also play the game, even if it is only in fleeting passages.

An ambitious between the leg push teed up a winning forehand while a cool drop shot saved one set point in the opener.

Murray wrapped up the first set, which prompted the Australian to slump in his chair at the changeover with his eyes firmly shut.

Kyrgios then sleepwalked into more trouble.

He allowed his racquet to slip out of his sweaty grasp at one stage in the second set before another attempt at a lazy “tweener” allowed Murray to open a 5-2 lead on his way to a two-set lead.

Kyrgios, despite complaining about the floodlights, rallied to break for a 2-0 lead in the third set but Murray hit back immediately.

From nowhere, Kyrgios snatched the set when Murray was broken to love — it was the first set the 20-year-old Australian had taken off the Briton.

But it was a brief respite.

Murray broke in the first game of the fourth set and Kyrgios bellowed out his frustration so violently that he was warned for swearing.

The Scot was two breaks to the good at 4-1 and sprinted away for a victory based on 18 aces and 46 winners.

— with AFP