Is Nick Kyrgios the new Bernard Tomic?

Kyrgios

The temperamental world No. 29 made the shocking revelation just a week before thousands of Aussie tennis tragics will stay up all night watching his progress at Wimbledon.

So much for being the next big thing.  

“I don’t really like the sport of tennis that much,” he told the Independent newspaper.

“I don’t love it. It was crazy, when I was 14 I was all for basketball and I made the decision to play tennis.

“I got pushed by my parents and to this day I can still say I don’t love the sport.

“It is just crazy how things go.”

For a guy who brings so much passion and excitement on the court, there’s an ever increasing number of reasons not to like him away from it.

For every between the legs winner, there’s a petulant, selfish comment in the media.

For every upset defeat of Rafael Nadal, there’s a host of code violations or angry outbursts at fans.

Maybe he’s still got some growing up to do. But that excuse can only last so long.

His recent split with long-time coach Todd Larkham and comments that he’d rather be in the NBA don’t lead you to believe he’s maturing.

Kyrgios risks going the way of Bernard Tomic, Australia’s last “next big thing” who turned out to be just another spoilt brat.

Meanwhile, 69th ranked 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis’ legion of fans continues to grow.

One of them, world No.1 Novak Djokovic, said “tennis needed players like Thanasi”.

True. His on-court grit, which matches anything Kyrgios can conjure, and his easy-going off-court demeanour, both signal a bright future for Australian tennis.

Tha Kokk is already the type of player you’d stay up all night watching.

Kyrgios? Maybe. But half the people watching will be wanting him to lose.

 

Author(s)