Legendary tennis coach, Rick Macci shared his thoughts about Nick Kyrgios and his success in the 2022 ATP season.
Over the course of his career, the talented Australian proved multiple times that he's capable of playing on the highest level and winning the biggest matches. In 2022, he proved it once again, but this time, he made it to the Wimbledon final.
After that, Kyrgios was able to win the Citi Open in Washington, and he even had his best-ever run at Flushing Meadows, reaching the 2022 US Open quarterfinals. One year later, the 28-year-old can't prove his qualities again, because of health problems.
However, the seven-time USPTA Coach of the Year, Rick Macci, doesn't need to see Kyrgios on the court to know that what we saw in 2022 was his real ability. Speaking exclusively to Tennis-Infinity.com, the American coach talked about the talented Australian.
"I don't think it was a one-hit wonder. I think what you saw when he did that at Wimbledon, then followed up with Washington and then quarters US Open, I think you saw his real ability. He's an artist, he's a performer."
Yet, the 2023 season has been far from what the Australian expected after the last year's success. He's set to drop out of the Top 100 on the ATP Tour, but that's not because of his bad performances but because of injuries that are keeping him out of play for longer than he would like.
"Now, you're right, with the injury, he has to start all over. It depends if he's hungry, if he wants to do it. When you got a serve and you can return like that, and you're one of the best athletes that held a racket in the world, you got a shot against anybody."
However, the 68-year-old coach reminds, 'tennis is a game of inches', but not in a sense we know the quote. He adds, 'from one ear to another', suggesting, that at the end of the day, it's all about the head, and highlighting how important is the mental part.
"But as we all know, tennis is a game of inches; from one ear, to another. And if that's not there, you know, you're gonna lose your brother. But, if you have the game, and obviously Kyrgios does, and listen, no one, no one wants to play the guy because you don't know what you're gonna get."
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