Share

Former Wimbledon champ: Kyrgios' got to zip it

Cape Town - Former Wimbledon champion John Newcombe reckons his Australian countryman Nick Kyrgios is not physically durable enough to become a world beater.

Kyrgios' temperament is usually cited as his ultimate weakness, with his career blighted by ugly confrontations and tantrums on court.

Newcombe, though, believes there is an even greater worry for Kyrgios ahead of the Australian Open next month.

"It's a bit of a worry that he has recurring injuries, especially around where the muscles join the joints and that's going to be an ongoing problem for him it seems," Newcombe, a three-time Wimbledon winner told The Age.

"At the Davis Cup he'd only played four sets of singles and his shoulder started to play up again and when you've got an injury like that it's hard to go out and practice a lot.

"Leading into the Australian Open - five sets is a big ask for him."

Kyrgios will head to the Australian summer season still on probation after his disciplinary problems at the Cincinnati Open.

He must avoid further outbursts during his six month probation or face a 16-week ban, and Newcombe has offered some frank advice.

"I can't speak for him but if it was me it would be tough having that ban hanging over you," Newcombe added.

"But I guess you've just got to learn to zip up."

- TeamTalk Media

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE