Nick Kyrgios surprised the tennis world when he was 19 in 2014 when he defeated then world number one Rafael Nadal on his way to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
But frequent tantrums and fines have overshadowed his undoubted talent and he has never achieved a better end in a Grand Slam.
Eight years later, Kyrgios is back in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and this time with a great opportunity to reach his full potential.
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He now faces Chilean Cristian Garin, who beat Australian Alex de Minaur in the previous round, starting at 11.15pm AEST tonight.
Wimbledon has confirmed that Kyrgios’ match will go ahead despite a report of assault on his ex-girlfriend.
“We have been informed of legal proceedings involving Nick Kyrgios in Australia and as they are ongoing we are not in a position to offer any comment,” says a statement from the All-England Club.
“We’re in touch with Nick’s team and he’s still scheduled to play his quarterfinal match.”
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Nadal has described Kyrgios in the past as “not a bad guy” despite his crossings on the court, saying he is a very talented player who could be fighting for number one spot.
But Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, the victim of Kyrgios in a stormy third-round clash at the All England Club this year, said the Australian has a “bad side” and is a “harasser”.
Kyrgios, 27, laughed at the allegations and had his best performance in his fourth-round win over American player Brandon Nakashima.
His Wimbledon campaign has been interrupted by news first published in the Canberra Times on Tuesday that he was summoned to appear in court in his hometown in August for a complaint of assault.
Tennis coach Andrew Bulley recalls a “small, chubby, energetic” Kyrgios who showed up at the National Sports Club in Lyneham, Canberra, when he was four, eager to take lessons with his older brother and sister.
He was always better than his teammates, but “it was nothing special” until a growth in his early teens made Kyrgios a tall player with explosive service who was now considered one of the best. of the business.
Although most kids under Bulley’s tutelage trained as they were told, “Nick would always be experimenting, which you can see when he plays. He always has four or five options ready to start.”
But there was also the boring look when things were too easy or too hard. In 2013, at the age of 17, Kyrgios was the best youth qualifier and winner of the Australian Open men’s individual title. The following year came his disastrous victory over Christmas.
REPORTS: Kyrgios faces assault charge | 00:59
Bulley notes the strong support Kyrgios has from his Greek father Giorgos and mother Norlaila, a Malaysian, who urged discipline and application.
Norlaila was born into a royal family, but relinquished her title when she moved to Australia.
Giorgos describes his 40-year-old son as a tough “perfectionist” with himself.
“The only advice we can give him is to do his best. Win or lose, you can’t predict the future. He knows he has a good chance of playing well against anyone, as long as he stays strong.”
Since his breakthrough in 2013, Kyrgios has been without a coach, once he told tennisnet.com that he doesn’t like listening to advice.
Kyrgios ’checkered race includes fines estimated at more than $ 550,000 for crimes such as lack of effort, a racket explosion, spitting in the direction of fans and throwing a chair on the track.
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In an Instagram post earlier this year, he talked about his struggles for mental health, admitting suicidal thoughts, self-harm and drug abuse, referring to one of his “darkest periods” in 2019.
“If you look closely, you can see my self-injury on my right arm. I had suicidal thoughts and was literally struggling to get out of bed, let alone play in front of millions,” he said, showing a photo of the Open of Australia that year.
But he also said he was proud to have “turned me around.” In a more recent assessment, he told ABC News: “I look in the mirror every day and I know I’m comfortable with my own skin.
“I don’t care much if I don’t win a Grand Slam (individual title) one day, or I don’t want to be like Roger Federer or something.
“But now, honestly, I don’t care how they perceive me because I know deep down, and the people around me know, that I’m a supportive person. I’m always myself.”
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Next for Kyrgios at Wimbledon is Chilean Cristian Garin and then potentially a semi-final against Nadal and a possible final against Novak Djokovic.
Nadal has won six of his nine games against the unpredictable Australian, while Djokovic has lost the two times he has played against Kyrgios.
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