The legends are offering their advice to Nick Kyrgios. First, it was John McEnroe referring to the fiery Australian as a “shell” of his former self, saying that he could help the currently coach less 20-year-old. Now, 1987 Wimbledon champion and fellow Aussie Pat Cash has chimed in, telling Kyrgios to take advantage of McEnroe’s offer to help.
Legendary Advice
McEnroe, a former-world number one and multi-Grand Slam winner, commented on Kyrgios’ development and coaching situation, saying “I don’t know exactly who is around him, but he needs good people around him. I wish in a way I could help. Someone needs to. If it could be me, that’d be great. If it’s someone else, that’s fine… I get the feeling how he’s going in the wrong direction which worries me.”
Pat Cash won Wimbledon in 1987/Photo: Rex Features
Cash told Australian media members that he believes that McEnroe would be a good fit for Nick Kyrgios. He is urging the Canberra native to take up McEnroe on his offer. Cash’s specific reasons for believing that Kyrgios could learn a lot from McEnroe have to do with Kyrgios current career path seemingly following in McEnroe’s superbrat footsteps.
“He’s been there, done that, been on the end of it” said Cash, referring to the adversity both men have faced with their attitudes and the often negative fan and media attention that goes along with it. Cash believes that Kyrgios could learn from the seven-time Grand Slam winner as a result.
The Problem with Kyrgios
Kyrgios, who Cash said could win a Grand Slam title and McEnroe have both said the young Aussie could be a top-five player. Unfortunately, he has become more famous for his attitude and a string of on-court incidents. That includes the infamous taunting of Stan Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup and tanking at Wimbledon against Richard Gasquet. McEnroe referred to that incident as “pathetic.” Cash says that he is worried that Kyrgios may not be willing to listen to anyone at this point, saying “[Kyrgios] is his own person really, he tends to want to do it his own way.”
Kyrgios during his controversial match against Wawrinka in Montreal/ Photo: AFP
Cash has further challenged Kyrgios’ desire to be a top-tier tennis player, saying “I’m not even sure if Nick wants to be top fiver or No.1, maybe he doesn’t want to be.”
Kyrgios himself has gone on record in the past saying that he prefers basketball to tennis. The Aussie appears headed into 2016 without a permanent coach. He parted ways with coach Tood Lankham just before Wimbledon. He worked some with Lleyton Hewitt during the summer months, but both titled that relationship more as mentoring. Kyrgios is set to begin the new season as part of Australia's team at the Hopman Cup exhibition.