TENNIS great Boris Becker says the top players on the ATP Tour should be looking over their shoulders nervously at Nick Kyrgios.
The six-time grand slam champion who now coaches world No. 1 Novak Djokovic says the Australian is the standout young player on the ATP Tour.
In a wide-ranging interview, Becker said Kyrgios will win a grand slam.
“He is a future champion,” Becker said.
“I watch him very closely. If you play him in a tournament, he’s a tough competitor. He is not someone who is beaten easily. He’s very colourful. He’s a character.
“I think people talk a lot about him at the moment a bit too much for his outbursts than his performances. But I think that will change.”
The world No. 27 won his first ATP title at the Marseille Open last month, but has since been embroiled in another off-court controversy when he had a public war of words with fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic.
The first title.Source:AP
Kyrgios ruled himself out of Australia’s Davis Cup tie against America last weekend after claiming to be too ill to play. Tomic sensationally questioned how serious Kyrgios’ illness was in the middle of his match against big-hitter John Isner.
Becker admits Kyrgios has a lot of growing up to do, but believes it is only a matter of time before it all comes together.
“Nick Kyrgios is the most talented of the young guns,” Becker said.
“He’s got a big game, a big serve, he loves the big stage. I think he’s got maturity problems, but he’s 20. You know, what do you expect?
“He’s still a young man, and he still has to find his feet. He has to control his emotions better than he does.”
Becker said he will be keeping an eye on Kyrgios as one of the biggest immediate threats to Djokovic’s position at the top of the men’s game.
In discussing the power balance at the top of the ATP Tour rankings, Becker again singled Kyrgios out as a legitimate threat.
Keep your eyes on the prize.Source:AFP
“We’ve seen in the last grand slams, that (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal, (Andy) Murray and (Stan) Wawrinka are very, very strong,” he said when asked if the competition for the No. 1 ranking is as fierce as it once was.
“They challenge Novak all the time. All these matches weren’t straightforward. They weren’t easy. And, on top of that, you have younger players, Milos Raonic made a mark and Tomas Berdych is always a tough competitor.
“Kei Nishikori from Japan, is really knocking at the door.
“You’ve got the younger generations, Nick Kyrgios and others, they are also getting stronger every day. So the reason Novak has been winning is not because they are not so good, the reason was that he found something that lifted his game up a few per cent. But believe me, it’s difficult.”
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