Nick Kyrgios ‘unravelled’ against Taylor Fritz as pundit says he needs ‘to get stronger’

Shahida Jacobs
Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon

A jaded Nick Kyrgios slumped out of the Western & Southern Open and there some concerns about his physical and mental well-being ahead of the US Open.

Kyrgios has been in sparkling form the past few months, finishing runner-up at Wimbledon before winning the singles and doubles at the Citi Open. He also reached the quarter-final of the Canadian Open last week, taking out world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the process.

On the back of the Australian’s Washington DC success, former world No 1 Andy Roddick declared that he is among the “top two, maybe three, favourites for the US Open.

“It’s a big, big deal to me that he goes into Washington, which is a pretty big event in the lead-up to the US Open,” the American told the Tennis Channel. “Brutal conditions….To go through singles and doubles and not to tap out mentally or physically is a big, big sign.

“I think it puts him into the top two, maybe three, favourites for the US Open.”

However, Kyrgios admitted in Montreal last week and after his first-round win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Cincinnati that he is starting to feel drained while being away from his sick parents is taking its toll.

“I didn’t feel the best physically, a bit worn out with everything, but I just mentally played the big points well,” he said on Monday.

And the home sickness and fatigue are starting to weigh him down as he was never really at the races during his 51-minute defeat to Taylor Fritz in the second round.

The American broke once in the first set and twice in the second to claim a 6-3, 6-2 victory with some fans booing as they felt he didn’t give his best during the match.

Nick Kyrgios ‘doesn’t care’ about records as parents’ illness is weighing him down

Former British No 1 and television pundit Greg Rusedski feels Kyrgios has plenty of concerns ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.

“It did unravel,” Rusedski said on Amazon Prime. “You can hear the boos around the stadium. They don’t feel like he gave it his best effort out there and we’re hoping the knee isn’t too serious but he’s got to show more.

“He’s improved out of sight but physically he’s got to get stronger.

“You’re worried about the knee physically. It’s a lot easier to do on grass courts than hard courts.”

There is no rest for Kyrgios just yet as he will team up with Thanasi Kokkinakis in the doubles of the ATP Masters 1000 event on Thursday. The reigning Australian Open men’s doubles champions will take on top seeds Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram in the second round.