FAST-talking, fiercely competitive and undoubtedly passionate - has Nick Kyrgios finally been able to harness these qualities for good?
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Two years ago Kyrgios rocked up at Wimbledon talking up his showdowns with stars like Nadal like it was a wrestling match. His unpredictable and appalling behaviour was crying out for a John Cena-style attitude adjustment.
But Kyrgios returns to Wimbledon this week seemingly a changed man - and the good thing, as wrestling fans would know, is how quickly such match-traits can turn.
Public perception has changed since Kyrgios last performed at the All England Club. Australians have loved his blunt call-out of bad behaving tennis stars, even headline acts like Novak Djokovic, for their whining and blatant flouting of COVID-19 rules. We have loved his generosity and drive in promoting bushfire relief.
There has never been any doubting his tennis talent and most of us have really wanted to like him.
We can and should give Kyrgios a second chance.
Time away from the game and, importantly, time at home has given Kyrgios a fresh perspective in a game he has openly struggled to appreciate. He knows there will be huge expectations on his shoulders, despite little match-play the past two years.
But Kyrgios is ready and willing to get out there and have a go. He feels he can make a strong impact and that is all we can ask of him.
I just became happier. That's it. Nothing bothers me anymore.
- Nick Kyrgios
"I just became happier. That's it. Nothing bothers me anymore," Kyrgios told The Canberra Times when preparing to fly out last week.
To say much has changed on the global sporting stage the past two years would be an understatement.
Wimbledon was a scratching last year but the All England Club marquee event in 2019 is an interesting yardstick from which to measure.
Australia was polarised when the national free-to-air broadcaster opted to keep screening a volatile and downright embarrassing Kyrgios instead of national role model Ash Barty in her first Wimbledon match with world number one billing.
That alone sparked a national debate on what we truly value in how we want to be represented as Australians on the international stage. And then, Kyrgios was not worth the attention.
But people change.
Remember, Wimbledon 2019 was the stage where Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, demanded extreme social distancing when she took to the stands as a spectator - and well before COVID-19 started its spread.
Since then the Duchess no longer even lives in her adopted kingdom.
Kyrgios said he no longer sweats anything when it came to tennis. Even a return from a horror run of injuries the past two years.
"I win or lose a match and I'm not bothered. I don't care what people say or expectation, it doesn't bother me any more," Kyrgios said. "I know I'm in the deep end, but I'm better equipped for it. I'm just going to go out there and play."
That is good news. We like what we are hearing.
Now is the time for actions, Kyrgios, and we can hardly wait for what you might serve up.
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