Break point: proof Nick Kyrgios is quelling the fire within

A moment in his second-round win over Gilles Simon may be proof Nick Kyrgios is slowly learning to cool the rage inside him.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios celebrates after defeating France’s Gilles Simon on Thursday night. Picture: AP

A crucial moment in Nick Kyrgios’s second round win over Frenchman Gilles Simon on Thursday night may be proof the volatile Canberran is slowly learning to cool the rage within.

When Kyrgios was called for a time violation by umpire Jaume Campistol attempting to close out the second set, it could have been the moment he fell apart.

That was exactly what happened five months ago when the 24-year-old blew his top in a match against Karen Khachanov — the same man he will play in the Australian Open’s third round on Saturday night — in Cincinnati last August.

That night Kyrgios, who was leading by a set, was told by umpire Fergus Murphy he was treading a fine line on the time he was taking between points. He exploded, calling Murphy a “f … ing tool.”

“Every time I play he’s doing some stupid shit, every time,” he would later add.

Kyrgios lost the second set and then the match — he was later fined $167,000 and placed on a suspended ban.

On Thursday night, when Campistol warned him about time it could’ve happened again. Instead he managed to hold himself together to close out the set. Given Simon’s rally in the third, it was a critical moment in the match.

Kyrgios believes it is an issue of fairness. It is no surprise that, when called at a key moment in his triumph over Simon on Thursday night, he mimicked the notoriously slow Rafael Nadal.

Kyrgios does not like being called on time. But the Canberran believes it should be called for everyone, regardless of status. He feels some stars receive greater latitude than the rank-and-file. And he believes it is a case of advantage, Nadal, in regards to this aspect of the rule book.

Credit should go to Campistol, as well. After issuing the warning, he avoided looking at the Australian for a few seconds.

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This was not cowardly, rather a strategy to defuse the tension. And it worked. Kyrgios did his impression of Nadal, had a laugh, and got back to business.

Doubles legend Paul McNamee believes Kyrgios has previously placed in situations that exacerbate his frustrations. McNamee, who conceded he will always be in the corner of the player, feels Kyrgios was failed by officials in Cincinnati as much as he failed himself with the temper tantrum.

“I have a lot of sympathy for his situation, especially when you have history with an umpire. Normally you are kept away from them,” McNamee said on SBS.

“There are always two sides to the story. He is the fastest guy in the world between points and he lost it. What happened after that, I accept, was disgraceful, however it got to him. The problem is when he gets into a bad situation, that is the problem. It can get out of control and that is where he has problems, disciplinary problems.”

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Kyrgios still has plenty to work on. With victory against Simon in sight he appeared to go for the quick kill rather than play the game that got him into a winning position.

He lost the third set and fell behind in the fourth. It looked like the old Kyrgios was back. “I could have gone to a very dark place in the fourth set,” he later admitted.

The big server berated his box — and later apologised for “being a bit of a dickhead to them” — but was able to focus after dropping the third set to win 6-2 6-4 4-6 7-5.

He had directed his fury toward his entourage, which included Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

“Of all the things you could say on break point, ‘stay tough’,” he bellowed at them.

“That’s what I get, every break point, ‘stay tough’ … wow. So creative, so creative.”

Kyrgios’s exchange with Murphy may have been a blessing in disguise. As part of an edict from the ATP Tour Kyrgios was ordered to receive counselling and must now see a sports psychologist during events. He seems to have greater control over his emotions.

“There were a couple times when I went overboard, I think, last year which caused the probation,’’ he said.

The other curiosity surrounding Kyrgios is his fitness. For someone so dynamic, the 2015 Australian Open quarter-finalist has endured shoulder and arm injuries, among other issues.

Leading into this summer there were concerns as to whether he had been able to train enough to enjoy a fruitful January because of a collarbone problem, a factor he acknowledged in Brisbane.

Kyrgios was flat by the time Australia reached the semi-finals of the ATP Cup and was well beaten by Roberto Bautista Agut. But he felt very good at the end of an examination from Simon while Khachanov could scarcely get off the ground after a super tie-breaker win over Mikael Ymer.

That’s no surprise. The statistical boffins at Tennis Australia have assessed both players amid a broader tournament analysis and found Khachanov has used twice as much juice as Kyrgios so far.

In their first clash since Cincinnati, it may be Kyrgios is physically and mentally fresher and stronger.