Adam Peacock on Nick Kyrgios: Love him or hate him, we can’t look away
THE elderly couple stand in front of a life-size painting of one of life’s most charismatic figures, Cosmo Kramer.
“I sense great vulnerability,” offers the old lady, “a man child crying out for love, an innocent orphan in the postmodern world.”
“I see a parasite,” counters the elderly gent.
Back and forth they go with their critique.
Woman: “Yet I detect a nobility of attitude and unwavering loyalty, much like St Bernard”
Gent: “But look at the eyes, he’s a creature barely hanging on to existence”
Woman: “His struggle is man’s struggle. He lifts my spirit.”
Gent: “He is a loathsome offensive brute… yet I can’t look away.”
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One of Seinfeld’s great moments; and there were a few to choose from, sums up a certain relationship in Australia.
Namely, Australia’s relationship with Australia’s best tennis player.
Nick Kyrgios last night was, at times, a player barely hanging on to existence. Other times his struggle was man’s struggle — we all have doubts — and when he succeeded it lifted the spirit of those watching.
And before you knew, to repeat Larry David’s immortal script, he was a loathsome, offensive brute.
A kid from Canberra’s ability, effort, application, concentration, consideration was fair game for deliberation and debate.
And that’s reasonable; sport is a stage, tennis’ stage is where the bright lights can burn a hole in the soul given the dimensions of the court and its individual nature.
He’s ‘at it’ again, sneered some.
He’s been ‘at it’ for a few years now.
‘Yet, I can’t look away’
US Open, 2014, he was cruising in the first round against Mikael Youzhny, a former semi-finalist at the event who couldn’t handle this flash at the other end who for some unbeknown reason started picking fights with umpires and lines people. Kyrgios won that day.
He didn’t in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2015 a bizarre encounter with Richard Gasquet, in which he was accused of tanking; treason in the eyes of many for an Australian sportsman. Dawn Fraser thought so.
‘Yet, I can’t look away’
Wimbledon 12 months later, he got thrashed by Andy Murray, who was halfway through steamrolling everyone in his path to a 2nd title and knighthood.
“Do you think you’re applying all…to becoming the best pro you can?” Kyrgios was asked after the Murray loss.
“No,” he muttered.
“Is it something you want to address?” came the follow up.
“I don’t know,” he said without a trace of flippancy, because genuinely, he looked lost.
‘Yet, I can’t look away’
Then to the US Open in 2016 where he was in the zone against Illya Marchenko in the third round his mind was totally engaged only for his body to fail, a hip injury forcing retirement. He admitted afterwards diligence and more time in the gym was needed to avoid a repeat.
This January he’s been brilliant (first match Hopman Cup against Lopez, Fast4 against Nadal, first round Aus Open) and otherwise (last match Hopman Cup against Sock, last night).
However according to the man himself he’s paying the price for not doing the proper pre-season he knew was required.
‘Yet, I can’t look away’
Last night’s match was the highest rating of the tournament on Australian screens. More eyes saw it than anything Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal or Serena has had to offer so far. It even outdid the Big Bash behemoth.
Last night’s press conference; another piece of theatre hard to ignore because to hell with Bernie’s match — what words from Nick will explain his actions — had the same tone and mood as Wimbledon sixth months ago, and the Murray loss.
He knows he needs a coach. He doesn’t know if he wants one.
He admires Lleyton Hewitt, who is too busy to take on Kyrgios fulltime (would be totally unfair to the other Australian players vying for Davis Cup spots), but looms as the lone human on earth that might be able to steer him consistently in the right direction. Well, more so than say John McEnroe.
But only if he wants to take that direction.
As it STILL stands, hoping for Kyrgios to be on an even keel is like wishing for the tide to stay at one metre 24 hours a day.
He is the ultimate paradox.
And yet, we can’t look away.