“Maybe I’m asking for too much, which most of the time I am” – Kyrgios delves into his equation with his team
Kyrgios, often seen lashing out at his box, says having his physio, manager and girlfriend support him has been great
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios during his fourth round match at Wimbledon 2022
Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic
Nick Kyrgios is a very public person when it comes to displaying his emotions and his opinions. He never shies away from giving his opinion on any topic even if it may get him into trouble. And the Australian’s Instagram account is packed with loving messages for his family, girlfriend and his friends.
But watch the 27-year-old on the tennis court in the midst of a tense match and you would often find him screaming at his box, which is filled with those closest to him. During the Wimbledon final, Kyrgios was repeatedly seen lash out at his box for what he thought was not enough support during critical moments.
At the Citi Open in Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening after he had defeated Tommy Paul to advance to the round of 16, Kyrgios was asked about lashing out at his box and he admitted that, at times, he expects too much from them.
Kyrgios : “They feel how intense I am”
“I don’t (tell my box to stand up after every point). I don’t, but I do expect them to (smiling),” Kyrgios said. “In a perfect world, I would like them to do a squatting routine during the day to get them ready for that. I think they can tell when I’m in some tough positions out there.”
“As I said, I think after Wimbledon if I was ranked where I should be ranked, I wouldn’t be so intense in a first round of a (ATP) 500 against Marcos Giron. But that’s just the hand I’m dealt right now. I think it’s good, it’s rewarding. That’s just what it is right now. They can feel how intense I am and how professional I’m being off the court. I’m not doing anything to kind of hurt my performance. I’m being professional, eating well, going to bed, and we are on the same page. I would like them to know that I love them. That’s all that matters.”
Kyrgios, who next meets another big-server Reilly Opelka in the round of 16, went on to further explain that he keeps looking for every last bit of positive reinforcement since he feels that it could bring him some luck to win the point.
“There is no hiding that I’m just crazy in that sense. There is nothing around it. I just feel as if it’s almost like before the point I want every sort of bit of luck to be on my side for me to win that, and I feel like that just might be the only thing that would make me win the point that once another person says one more thing, who knows?,” Kyrgios added.
I beat myself up way too much.
Nick Kyrgios
“I feel like there can be one little thing that my team says to me that can help me. I don’t need someone to tell me how to play tennis. I just need positive reinforcement at times to just give me feedback that I’m doing all right and I’m doing well, because I have had so much negativity in my career that sometimes I beat myself up way too much. I feel like just one little positive thing can do so much for my tennis.”
Kyrgios went on to state that feels incredibly supported by his team and that they are all chasing the same goal – for him to become the best tennis player he can be.
Kyrgios : “Everything around me is amazing”
“Maybe I’m asking for too much, which most of the time I am. They are an incredible support group. My physio has been with me now for almost eight, nine years. I wouldn’t be here today in this physical shape without him. I can’t thank my girlfriend enough and everything we’ve all been through. They know I would do anything for them and almost die for them.”
“I think everything around me right now is amazing. I’m fortunate enough to be in a really healthy relationship that’s loving, she’s supports me, and we just have fun. Having my physio with me full time, pretty much full time this year has been great, because that was something I wasn’t able to do last year because of COVID. I just got (my) physio, my girlfriend, supportive, my manager is my best friend. I feel we are all on same page, have the same goals, I’m training hard. We are just having fun with it.”
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