Nick Kyrgios’s antics are hurting more than just his image
FORGET the fines and the hate sent his way — Nick Kyrgios’s petulant outbursts have far more damning consequences.
NICK Kyrgios’s mid-match walk-off in China came as no surprise to those who have become accustomed to seeing the Australian’s many meltdowns. But this latest episode reveals his antics have a far greater effect than just giving the haters more ammunition.
Kyrgios quit his match against American Steve Johnson after losing the first set in a tie-breaker at the Shanghai Open on Tuesday night. He blamed illness and a sore shoulder for his abrupt exit the next day, but courtside microphones heard him say he would pull the pin if he lost the opening set in an alleged protest against the chair umpire, who he was having a running battle with.
The tennis brat was fined nearly $13,000 and lost a further $27,000 in prizemoney.
For those who aren’t already hoarse from condemning Kyrgios after his every act of petulance, they will criticise him again. They already have. But he’s used to that and he doesn’t care.
More than just soiling his own image, Kyrgios’s inability to show any thread of self-control or maturity on the court gives his opponents a vital boost.
Sports Illustrated tennis writer Jon Wertheim believes his outbursts and withdrawals from matches reflect a fatal trend in tennis that when he’s not feeling at his peak physically, he disintegrates. He can’t fight through pain or fatigue or tough conditions and his tennis suffers.
“When his body betrays him, his will goes, too,” Wertheim writes. “This is, potentially, deadly in sports. But especially in a one-on-one sport.”
It’s deadly because once the person on the other side of the net sees you wilting, in their minds you’re already beaten. Opponents know they don’t necessarily need to outplay Kyrgios — a tough ask because his talent is unquestionable — they just need to outlast him.
That means when anyone — be it the World No. 1 or World No. 201 — steps onto the court with the 22-year-old knowing not everything is in his favour, they’re already a step closer to defeating him.
“If you know that your opponent is prone to tapping out when transported to an uncomfortable place, that’s a considerable mental advantage,” Wertheim says.
“On this issue ... he does a great disservice to his own competitive advantage. I suspect the rest of the field sees results like one in Shanghai and, while the first response is a sheepish, ‘Kyrgios gonna Kyrgios,’ the real takeaway is, ‘I know this guy can quit when he’s not feeling his best.’”
Kyrgios had a real chance in Shanghai to carry on the momentum he’d built up at an impressive China Open. He defeated World No. 27 Mischa Zverev and his brother, World No. 4 Alexander Zverev, en route to the final against Rafael Nadal, which he lost in straight sets.
But in an act of pure selfishness, Kyrgios blew it. And opponents know it’s only a matter of time before he blows it again.