TURIN | Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has softened his bad-boy image of tennis in recent months, but the Australian says it all: his reputation hasn’t changed.
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Often criticized for his lack of effort in training – and sometimes in the middle of a game – the world’s 22nd has traded the throwing of stick and shoes for a game that is both powerful and more consistent in the second half of the season. .
And it has paid off. Kyrgios, finalist at Wimbledon, quarter-finalist at the United States Open, climbed the ladder of world rankings and reached the edge of the top 20, he who was 114th at the start of the year.
“We are bad role models”
The Australian is also the ATP final in Turin. Not single, but doubles. A discipline that he practices little but well. Especially with his compatriot and friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, at whose side he inspired the Australians in January in Melbourne by winning the cup.
But despite his success this season, the 27-year-old does not believe that public opinion has changed. Even if the “Bad Boy” was supported by a few weeks in Flushing Meadows by a good part of the crowd.
“[Lundi] Tomorrow there were many young people, children who came to see you play. You are idols for her. How does that feel?” a reporter asked at a press conference after the pair lost to favorites in Britains Neal Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-5.
“We are bad role models,” replied Kyrgios. We are bad in sports. Nobody likes to see us play. We are not a crowd favorite. So I don’t find your statement right. Nobody came to see us play.
To a melody of the backstreet boys
Was he serious, mocking or ironic, the Bad Boy des tennis? Hard to say. But one thing is for sure, he likes Italy alongside his good friend.
Before the game, Kyrgios walked towards the pitch and, under the dejected looks of Kokkinakis, waved at I want it that way from the Backstreet Boys.
“Experience is great,” he said. Thanasi and I never thought that we would be there at the ATP finals. We always thought we could do good things together, but we only played six or seven doubles events…”