Nick Kyrgios will coach Frances Tiafoe at UTS
New role, unlocked… Aussie Nick Kyrgios will coach Frances Tiafoe at this weekend’s UTS in Los Angeles.
Zuma / Panoramic
An injury to his right wrist, suffered ahead of Wimbledon, has ruled Nick ‘King’ Kyrgios out of this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Los Angeles, but the Aussie will step into the coaching ring for the first time, taking the reins for Frances ‘Big Foe’ Tiafoe.
Just call him ‘King Coach’.
Kyrgios, who announced his withdrawal from the event earlier this week (he has been replaced by Benoit Paire), had already hinted that he would take part in UTS in some capacity. “I will still be coming to LA and the UTS event,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added: “Maybe I’ll coach… any suggestions?”
Happy to read that you’ll be there on site with us @NickKyrgios. You’re one of us. pic.twitter.com/ch1vJcJRxu
— UTS 🎾 – LA (21-23 July), Frankfurt (15-17 Sept) (@UTShowdown) July 18, 2023
The uncoachable coach?
The decision to coach Tiafoe is a surprising twist, given that Kyrgios himself has gone uncoached for so many years on tour, but with Tiafoe’s longtime coach Wayne Ferreira unable to make it, Tiafoe and Kyrgios elected to join forces.
We’re not lying to you. This is tennis like you’ve never seen it before.@NickKyrgios will coach @FTiafoe this weekend for the UTS Los Angeles #UTSTour 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/3aBBvIhoxa
— UTS 🎾 – LA (21-23 July), Frankfurt (15-17 Sept) (@UTShowdown) July 20, 2023
At UTS all players will have a coach with them on court during their matches, with improvisational player-coach interactions becoming a highlight of the broadcast and the live experience.
We can’t wait to watch this experiment play out in real time!
UTS Los Angeles will be held from July 21 to 23 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, on the Campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in a 7,200 seat stadium. It marks a return of professional tennis to the greater Los Angeles area, which hosted an ATP event from 1968 to 2012. You can purchase tickets here.
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