WATCH: Nick Kyrgios plus grass equals magic
Nick Kyrgios believes that he might be the best player in the world on grass and at his best he’s probably closer to being right than many would admit.
Kyrgios has all the tools to be a devastating force on grass when he is at full fitness.
The Australian’s big serve and powerful groundstrokes are hard enough to handle, but he also has the audacity to break out unconventional shots usually reserved for exhibition tennis in big competitions.
Ahead of Wimbledon last season, Kyrgios esteemed himself as a top-five or top-ten player on grass.
His run to the Wimbledon final isn’t the only time he has dazzled on grass, either.
“On grass, you know, I would be top five, top 10 in the world, definitely,” Kyrgios told Tennis TV.
“If I’m feeling good on grass, I feel really, really comfortable on it.”
Just check out these 20 amazing points that prove Nick Kyrgios is a magician on grass.
WATCH: Nick Kyrgios plus grass equals magic
Experienced tennis coach Dmitry Tursunov feels Kyrgios sells out stadiums because he is authentic and doesn’t project a sterilised persona.
Tursonov says that the powers that be in the sport try to ‘neuter’ players and that has created a sterile environment.
However, Kyrgios appeals to a broad base of fans because he hasn’t lost who he is, according to the former coach of Emma Raducanu.
Tursonov feels that Kyrgios’ antics stand out that much more because other players are afraid to show their emotions on court.
“In tennis they are trying to neuter the emotions out of the sport,” Tursunov said on the Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast.
“Players are afraid to show their personality, to say their minds, because nowadays anything you say can be twisted.
“You say that ‘I played great today’, someone’s going to say that, ‘oh, he sounds cocky, he’s putting his opponent down.’ So players in general are just afraid to be themselves.
“That’s why I think Nick Kyrgios sells out every freaking stadium that he plays in because he hasn’t been neutered enough. He’s been fined enough, but he doesn’t mind it. He’s a pretty strong personality if you ask me.”
Tursonov believes that too much is made of Kyrgios’ antics; feeling that the Aussie firebrand acts like a pantomime villain or pro-wrestling heel figure who gets the crowd engaged with the action.
“I mean, what’s the problem if a player is just throwing a middle finger to the crowd? It looks bad, the whole crowd is booing, but you just got the crowd emotionally involved,” he said.
“You got them to hate someone, to feel something, versus can’t fart in the stands, can’t open a bag of chips, throw a racket.”
Kyrgios also said that the hardest thing about being in tennis is staying true to himself in a cookie cutter environment.
“Honestly, me being the personality that I am… in a sport that likes to stay in a small little box.”
Kyrgios says that he plays for people that see him as their hero.
“I play for a lot of people,” Kyrgios told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I feel like I’m very relatable. A lot of kids and people look up to me when I play. If someone like me can make it this far and achieve what I’ve achieved, I think it gives them a lot of hope.”
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