John McEnroe has said he is ‘hopeful’ that Australian star Nick Kyrgios will be able to capitalize on his talent before retiring from the sport.
The former world No.1 has pledged his full backing behind Kyrgios by naming him one of the sports most talented players. During an interview with Australia’s Sport Sunday, McEnroe said only a select group of players have more talent than him on the ATP Tour. Naming the Big Three and Andy Murray as those who he considers are better.
Kyrgios, who has been hampered by various injury setbacks in recent months, is currently ranked 40th in the world. He has won six ATP titles so far in his career, including two in 2019. In the Grand Slams he has reached the quarter-finals twice at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships and the 2015 Australian Open.
“On talent alone I put him behind the top three. If you include [Andy] Murray, I’d throw him right behind the obvious three legends, Novak and Rafa and Roger. Murray’s won three so he’d be the next guy. He should have won some already if he had been able to keep his mind on the job,” TeamTalk media quoted McEnroe as telling Sports Sunday.
Amid the praise Kyrgios can be an at times controversial figure in the sport and has received numerous penalties. Last September he was hit with a 16-week suspended ban for ‘aggravated behaviour’ by the ATP. Nevertheless, McEnroe believes the 25-year-old can still reach the top of the sport should he fully commit to doing so.
“As we all know, people around sports and athletes, it’s not just about how much talent you have, it’s about how much fortitude you have mentally and what type of fitness you put yourself in mentally as well as physically and how deep you’re willing to go. How far you are willing to go to get the win? He’s not been able to do that,” he said.
“I don’t know if he will ever be able to do it. I hope he does because I happen to like him and it would be great for the game if he did.”
Kyrgios has scored at least one win over each member of the Big Three. He has defeated Rafael Nadal three times, Novak Djokovic twice and Roger Federer once. It could be argued that his progress on the Tour has been affected by physical problems. According to the ATP, he has withdrawn from 20 tournaments since 2018 (11 in 2018, seven in 2019 and two in 2020). The problems he has experienced concerned his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knee, shoulder and collarbone.
As for the future, McEnroe has said he would be ‘tempted’ to work with Kyrgios if he was ever presented with the opportunity. Something the American has previously said on multiple occasions that he would be interested in doing.
“Of course I’d be tempted,” he said. “He’d be like a no-brainer, if it worked it would be incredible.
“We’d probably be at each other’s throats within minutes, but it would certainly be tempting.
“Not only with me, it can be with someone else. I’m not the only guy who’s willing and able to do the job.
“He just doesn’t seem ready to have a coach. First of all, he’s got to be ready to want to do it.”
Kyrgios started 2020 with a win-loss record of 6-3.
