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Visitors to Melbourne are told to expect four seasons in one day. Spectators at Kyrgios’ tennis matches don’t need to be told that they are in for a wild ride!
Watch Kyrgios play tennis and you will experience him display a greater fluctuation in moods, emotions and behaviour than one of Melbourne’s most tempestuous weather days.
You had better expect the unexpected from Kyrgios! He can express himself in so many different ways: charming, petulant, fun loving, confident, aloof, indifferent, combative, humble, and appreciative for starters.
Kyrgios is sometimes viewed in the words of Winston
Churchill as a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma".
There are many apparent different sides to this emerging, very talented 20-year-old tennis player.
He sometimes plays in outfits that are very bright or even fluorescent, at other times in a bright red tank top (his current preference for the 2016 Australian Open). His hairstyles have varied from Mohawk to very short with patterns and plenty in between.
In a few of the Grand Slams he has played in he has engaged with the crowd in numerous ways (from asking a spectator at last year’s Australian Open why he was leaving the stadium to engaging with a fan in a Batman t-shirt at Wimbledon last year).
In his four set loss (3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 4-6) to Tomas Berdych on Sunday, Kyrgios was distracted by music that appeared to be coming from the bleachers at the Rod Laver Arena - and he was not shy in expressing his dissatisfaction.
“I don’t know where it came from. The ref was telling me he couldn’t hear it. I could blatantly hear it. It was just strange.”
Kyrgios also has a sensitive side. He described how it was an emotional experience for him watching compatriot Lleyton Hewitt bow out.
“I thought it was really sad seeing him go. Seeing his family come on court was pretty emotional.”
Kyrgios is also able to look at the bigger picture in a humble way. Does he see himself taking over Hewitt’s mantle?
“I’m doing
everything I can to try and take over for what he’s left. But I’m a bit far
away now. There’s a little work to do.”
Kyrgios also has the ability to brutally honest and open. When discussing his loss to Berdych.
“I’m so disappointed, like I put so much work in, and I just feel like I let a lot of people down.”
At other times he can be a closed book during press conferences, not making eye contact with any of the journalists, answering questions sarcastically, or providing terse 'yes' or 'no' answers with very little substance.
Is his behaviour so extreme for a 20-year-old? Being in the public eye is a difficult place to grow up. It becomes even more challenging when you are one of your countries greatest emerging tennis talents. Another degree of difficulty when you are making a great deal of money in the process.
In my humble opinion, Kyrgios is still trying to establish the best strategy to show the tennis world his authentic self. When he hits upon what this persona looks like, the tennis world is in for a surprise both on and off court.
It will likely bring stability and predictably to his behaviour, consistency to his on-court performances along with a tumbling world ranking. Until this powerful moment of insight and self-discovery arrives, he may continue to display all the unpredictable attributes of Melbourne’s weather!
