The Australian tennis player revels in defying convention and now returns to the scene of his 2022 final loss – where tradition is everythingAs Nick Kyrgios trained on the Aorangi practice courts at Wimbledon on Thursday, a club photographer snapped a moody portrait that seemed to capture the Australian’s essence. Wearing his white peaked hat backwards and sporting a dangling necklace, two earrings in his left lobe and a full beard, Kyrgios’s eyes were narrowed and his brow furrowed. For that split second, with his glance cast towards the camera with suspicion, last year’s finalist appeared as watchful as a toddler about to have their favourite toy taken away.Never one completely in love with tennis, the Canberran has additional reason...
After his most successful year on tour, there’s a feeling the Canberra wild child has finally matured enough to win an Australian Open There have been many times in his career when attempting to get a read on Nick Kyrgios has been like taking on Rafael Nadal on clay; a task almost inevitably destined to end in failure. But something has changed in the past 12 months, a year in which he reached his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Kyrgios goes into this year’s Australian Open a changed man.All players mature at different rates, on and off the court, and Kyrgios would probably admit that he has taken longer than most. But on the eve of his home Grand...
Rafael Nadal’s comments best signify the conflict between those who see the United Cup’s potential and what it currently isFiring forehand winners past a legend and pumping his fists in a ferocious manner, Alex de Minaur gave the United Cup the local morale boost it needed on Monday night in Sydney.In front of an adoring audience at Ken Rosewall Arena, the Australian spearhead overcame a set deficit on his favourite court to defeat Rafael Nadal 3-6 6-1 7-5 for the first time. But his thrilling victory in the inaugural competition also served as a reminder of what Australian tennis has lost given the remodelling of the Davis and Billie Jean King Cups in recent years. Continue reading...
The Australian’s searing form this year has only intensified the spotlight on him before the New York grand slamYou wouldn’t know Nick Kyrgios is getting sued based on his Instagram page. While a Wimbledon fan he accused of being drunk was preparing her legal papers, the subject of her litigation was cruising around Manhattan in a rickshaw, a Book of Mormon program in hand, grooving to beats, enjoying the Times Square tourist jaunt. “LUV NY,” he captioned the video.Start spreading the news, he’s leaving today. Kyrgios is in New York and everyone is watching. Rarely does the Australian not command international attention, but perhaps never has there been so much of it as now, in the week before the US...
The question is what comes next, as is so often the case with the Australian even when he is at his peakShortly after Novak Djokovic furthered his legend at Wimbledon on Sunday, the Serbian and his coach Goran Ivanisevic outlined holiday plans. With it unlikely the 21-time major winner will be able to play in the United States due to his vaccination status, fellow Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic is planning an elongated break.“There is one movie back home … The Long, Hot Summer,” Ivanisevic said. “This is going to be me – long, hot summer vacation.” Continue reading...