"Players like him, a lot of fans like him" - McEnroe on Kyrgios as a person

Friday, 02 September 2022 at 14:30

Updated at Tuesday, 28 January 2025 at 17:24

kyrgios nick wimbledon2022 martinsidorjak10

byErik Virostko

Nick Kyrgios keeps winning, so people keep talking about him. After his second-round victory at the 2022 US Open, John McEnroe shared his thoughts about the Australian.

McEnroe is one of the people who offered Kyrgios coaching, but the 27-year-old still travels without a coach. He's without a coach even at the US Open, where he beat Benjamin Bonzi in the second round.

However, McEnroe can really relate to the hot-headed Australian. The former American ATP player explained why he likes Kyrgios and why many fans also like him.

"I think I was right most of the time. That doesn’t mean I went about it in the right way. Knock on wood, I feel like I’m in a pretty good place now. The effort that I’ve made to get there, that’s been like a roller coaster in a lot of ways, but it’s been a hell of a ride. So I look at it that way and I feel like I’m in a pretty good place in my life right now."

"Each time he does something I go, ‘Did I do that?’ I like Nick as a person. I think he’s a smart kid. He moves the needle. I think the players like him. A lot of fans like him. There’s a lot of talk about him. He’s an incredible talent."

Despite really liking Kyrgios and what he does on the court, McEnroe still has some fears about the Australian's career. In particular, he thinks the Australian's inconsistency can really trouble him in his career.

"Almost all athletes have that fear of failure, and the question is not whether or not you have that. It’s how you handle it. Can you go out there and consistently give the effort that’s expected of a professional athlete who’s getting rewarded handsomely for their services? That’s the only issue that I’ve had with Nick over the years."

"I tried to model myself after [Jimmy] Connors, giving that type of effort. How hard did I try? Did I give it my best? And I think for the most part I feel like I did that, and I feel too often Nick just mails it in. And that’s just not good for him or good for the sport."