Composed and mature Nick Kyrgios opens up on his metamorphosis | Tennis News – Times of India

Nick Kyrgios had to be whisked away from bar at 4 am the night before he faced Rafael Nadal in the second round of 2019 Wimbledon, the mercurial Australian revealed on Monday.
Kyrgios put on a very un-Kyrgios like show in his fourth-round match against American Brandon Nakashima on the Centre Court, trading his usual chatter and histrionics for calm and good behaviour during his fighting 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory.
Whereas his ill-tempered match against Stefanos Tsitsipas was followed by even more acrimonious press conferences from both the players, Monday again proved to be a pleasant departure from the routine as Kyrgios opened up on his transition (still in the process, some might say) from a combustible youngster — who burst on the scene at the very same venue when he stunned Nadal in the fourth round in 2014 — to a seasoned veteran on the men’s tour.
“Look, there was a time where I was having to be forced out of a pub at 4 am to play Nadal second round. My agent had to come get me out of a pub at 4 am before I played my match on Centre Court Wimbledon (2019). I’ve come a long way, that’s for sure,” said Kyrgios, who was fined — for the second time in the tournament — for audible obscenity during his match against Tsitsipas.
The temperamental Aussie has been slapped with fines, suspensions and even asked to undergo counselling sessions for a variety of offences in the past.
But, despite his antics on Saturday and spitting in the direction of a spectator in the first-round clash with wildcard Paul Jubb, Kyrgios has shown in the last week glimpses of his persona that has not been seen before.
He has displayed amazing composure both in his second and fourth round matches, an ability to put his head down and focus on the tennis.
“Well, I just feel like I’ve been through so much. I feel like I’m able to stay more composed,” he said.
“Today I was almost just smiling and laughing to myself on the far side, just knowing I was locked in an absolute battle. Where in the past I wasn’t able to kind of enjoy that.
“I was enjoying the fact that I was … two sets to one, he was playing really well, I wasn’t playing that great. But I was almost enjoying the competitiveness.
“That’s probably the first time in my career where I wasn’t playing well, regardless of playing Centre Court Wimbledon, fully packed crowd, I was able to just say, ‘Wow, look how far I’ve come,’ to myself.
“I was like, ‘we’re here, we’re competing at Wimbledon, putting in a good performance mentally’. It was rewarding.
“I’m expecting everyone to play well against me now because for him, I was that kid once who stepped on that court, being the underdog.
“Where today it was me walking on Centre Court being the favourite. It was completely different for me, different feeling. But I was able to navigate that.”
The 27-year-old said metamorphosis stemmed from his changed ‘daily habits’ and he credited it to the team and people around him.
“I think just daily habits and the people around me. I’ve got an incredible support crew,” he said.
“My physio is one of my best friends. My best friend is my agent. I’ve got the best girlfriend in the world. I’ve just got so many people around me, they just support me. I feel like I can reflect on all those dark times when I pushed them all away.
“Now, to sit here in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, feeling good, feeling composed, feeling mature … I feel like I’m just comfortable in my own skin.
“But, you know, in the fifth set, in the closing moments when I look at them (in my box), there’s a million thoughts racing through my head. Like people won’t understand how many thoughts actually are running through your head … I just think about everything prior to leading up to this moment. And I’m talking years of things that are racing through my mind.
“Look, they deal with a lot of shit, that’s for sure, from me, but they always support me. It just goes so long, such a long way.”
The most crucial change, however, has been his ability to “switch off” after an important match like Monday’s.
“I don’t think in the past when I’ve gotten this far in a Grand Slam or when I’ve played big matches, I haven’t been able to separate,” he said.
“I used to be on my phone a lot after matches like this. When you get a result like this, it’s so easy to be attached to technology, seeing everyone’s opinion on the match or highlights or anything like that.
“But I feel like I’m really able to switch off from that. That’s a big part of my growth, I think. Obviously being obsessed with my girlfriend helps.
“I’m just able to just let that go and enjoy my dinner and wake up the next day, just separate tennis and life. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Yet, notwithstanding all that, he still turned up on Centre Court wearing red coloured training shoes, and signed off doing the on-court interview with a red cap.
It is a clear violation of Wimbledon’s strict all-white rule, and it remains to be seen whether he is slapped with another fine.
“Because I do what I want,” he said. “I just like wearing my Jordans.”