Nick Kyrgios of Australia returns a hit to Karen Khachanov of Russia during the West and South West at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 14, 2019 in Mason, Ohio.
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
Coronavirus has turned sport into the head and nowhere more than in tennis, where it is often controversial Nick Kyrgios he was anointed as “St Nick” for his moral leadership during the pandemic.
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Famous for his flashy personality and spectacular tantrums on the field, Kyrgios has long been a provocative and polarizing figure as he amassed a series of fines and bans.
But Australian fuel has shown a different side in recent weeks when it has led Novak Djokovic and other top players to rely on their “stupidity” and risky behavior.
The decision of the world number one followed to continue with an exhibition tournament in the Balkans, where social distancing was minimal. Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive for Covid-19.
“I am not @ for everything I have done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ – this requires cake” Kyrgios tweeted.
Kyrgios also whipped “selfish” Alexander Zverev after being seen celebrating despite the self-isolation vote after Djokovic’s Adria Tour, while questioning Dominic Thiem’s intellect after the Austrian criticized his criticisms.
The exchanges follow Kyrgios’ admirable, and often emotional, efforts to gain support for the victims of the devastating forest fires that ravaged Australia this year, gaining new respect.
He often complained in the media as a strong mouth and a wasted talent, that of Sydney Daily Telegraph calls Kyrgios in 40th place the “voice of reason”.
“Crazy events take place every day in sports, but the strangest of all is Nick Kyrgios who becomes a COVID crusader and lucid conscience of a twisted world of tennis,” he wrote recently. “St Nick. Moral guardian. Who had thrown himself?”
The great tennis player John Newcombe also praised him for calling players to break Covid-19 protocols, but suggested that he do it less publicly.
“I know when we were playing, if you had a problem you brought it to the person. You didn’t make it public. But it’s a different world, I guess,” he told reporters.
Everyone doesn’t like the “new Nick”, with some on social media suggesting that he was using the pandemic to increase his profile and rekindle feuds with players he doesn’t get along with.
“He’s trying to be relevant off the pitch because everyone knows he’ll never be able to deliver on the pitch. “ one user said, while another suggested: “He’s using the virus as an excuse to do what he’s always done, which criticizes other players on social media.”
That criticism includes Djokovic, after Kyrgios said of the Serbian last year: “I just have the feeling that he has a sick obsession with wanting to please.”
“This whole party (kissing kisses to the crowd) after the games is a little embarrassing” He added.
Kyrgios also has a history with Zverev, who angered in January causing provocative pushups when the German was serving double flaws during the ATP Cup.
While Kyrgios, 25, will always have his knockers, he also has a large fan base with 1.4 million followers on Instagram and hundreds of thousands on Twitter.
As Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou has pointed out this week: “He (Kyrgios) is one of the few kids besides the top three to fill the stadiums.”
“He is provocative and exaggerating, but he is like that and that is why he is an interesting character and many people like him,” he added.
The Sydney Morning Herald He suggested that the criticisms of Kyrgios’ Covyr-19 were “part of an image reconstruction” that began with his fundraising of fires after a series of field scandals last year.
“He endorses Nike, Yonex and Beats headphones. Now that he is the world ambassador against tennis dickheads, he puts himself even more firmly in the hands of corporate image creators”, he wrote.
