Australian Open 2019: Nick Kyrgios reaps what he sows

Nick Kyrgios gets what he deserves. If his body keeps packing it in, it’s because he doesn’t do enough to keep it in shape.

Nick Kyrgios’s body keeps packing it in because he doesn’t keep it in shape

Nick Kyrgios gets what he deserves. If Lleyton Hewitt is talking to him less, it’s because the Davis Cup captain believes Kyrgios has stopped listening. If his body keeps packing it in, it’s because he doesn’t do enough to keep it in shape. If his season starts poorly, it’s because he’s done sweet stuff-all in his preparations.

He’s competed hard at the Australian Open but the loss to Milos Raonic has shocked no one. Late on Tuesday evening at Melbourne Park, he’s received his just deserts.

Kyrgios and Hewitt are not exactly at each other’s throats, but the relationship has definitely cooled. Hewitt has tried and failed in the past to whip Kyrgios into shape.

I’ve seen them training at Indian Wells. Hewitt has encouraged him, pushed him, supported him and hits thousands of balls with him under a hot California sun. The most motivated bloke on the court? Hewitt.

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Kyrgios’s waning interest has coincided with the arrival of Alex de Minaur. He’s everything Kyrgios is not in attitude and ambition. Hewitt has undoubtedly gravitated towards de Minaur, and who can blame him? Kyrgios has been tuning in and out. De Minaur? All ears.

Kyrgios has fallen outside the top 50. Because he deserves it. It leaves him vulnerable to tough draws. Deserves it. He’ll be outside the top 80 next week. Deserves it.

He’s not fit enough to play a full season because he doesn’t do enough work to get fit. No one deserves injuries, but Kyrgios has never done enough to avoid them.

When he does rock up to a tournament, he’s invariably uninterested. With the attitude of de Minaur or John Millman, he’d be unstoppable.

At present, he’s in a wasteland of sporadic appearances and a rankings free fall. He’s no certainty to be chosen for Davis Cup. Doesn’t deserve to be.

He’s played three matches in the Australia season and won only one of them. It’s what he’s deserved after clocking off since late last year.

He reckons he’s misunderstood and yet it’s all crystal clear. In sport and any other walk of life, you reap what you sow. He remains unseeded.