Eye of the coach # 60 – Why Nick Kyrgios is a much better player when he’s mad at the world (and the umpires)

In the latest edition of Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou breaks down the psychology of Nick Kyrgios, and discusses the Aussie’s ability to turn drama into brilliant tennis.

August 1, 2022

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The figures

Nick Kyrgios is as volatile as they come on a tennis court. While playing, the Aussie frequently flies into fits of rage, berates officials, banters – and admonishes – crowds, and conducts a heated, running dialogue with his team.

In this week’s Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou analyzes the mercurial Aussie and states his belief that Kyrgios thrives in the very chaos he creates.

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KEY MOMENTS

:10 – Mouratoglou says that Kyrgios uses his volatile moments to create energy for himself on court. “I think it’s his way to get his energy, to get his will, to get his aggressiveness that he needs to play with,” he said.
:20 – Being quiet on court tends to leave Kyrgios flat, says the coach: “When he’s too silent he’s not that aggressive, in the game, and he’s not playing his best – I think he’s much more vulnerable in the matches when he’s quiet, when there is no problem.”
:31 – The chaos is manufactured from Kyrgios, whether planned or not: “In a way he creates problems because he needs them to take the best out of himself,” said Mouratoglou. “A lot of people think he’s annoying and I understand – I’m not saying it is good or not good. I’m saying it’s good for him and he needs it, and that’s why he creates problems.”
:59 – The more drama, it seems, the better, for Kyrgios: “When he played against Stefanos at Wimbledon and he thought that Stefanos should have been defaulted because he threw the ball in the crowd, he spoke about it almost the whole match and he probably played the best he’s ever played.”
1:10 – “The next morning I was in the locker room and Nick was still talking about it, with another chair umpire or whatever, shouting and still into it. He needs it, it brings the fire in himself that he needs to play his best.”