It has been a few days but Nick Kyrgios’ statements about the French Open “sucking” and clay’s supposed lack of value-addition to the Tour swirl about predominantly. That the Australian did not even play a match in Roland Garros but withdrew with an illness – a reason which fooled no one – should have been good enough reason for all discussions about him to be shut out. But since it is Kyrgios, the chatter has carried forth on and on as though dissecting it could bring about better clarity to his words.
What did Kyrgios say?
In an Instagram video shot at the All England Club in Wimbledon, the 24-year-old said, “The fact that I’m here right now and then I have to go to Paris in a couple of days is like… the French Open just sucks compared to this place. It sucks. It absolutely sucks.” Then, making an unnecessary comparison between the grass courts in Wimbledon and the clay courts in general, he added, “I think this is the best tournament in the world. Look at this perfect green surface. Get rid of the clay, man. Who likes the clay(?) It is so bad.”
Kyrgios’ monologue was sarcastically reiterated by his compatriot – and fellow troublemaker – Bernard Tomic after his first-round loss to American Taylor Fritz on 28th May, Tuesday. In response to a question by a reporter during his post-match press conference, Tomic said, “I agree with him (Kyrgios), with everything. The tournament is not for me.”
Tomic’s comments seemed to give validation of Kyrgios’ sentiments. However, for Kyrgios and by extension for Tomic, irony has had the last laugh as their words came to be set against the swiftly-altering backdrop of qualitative action in Paris in the first week of the tournament. This scenario – where other players have brought the best of the French Open – should be the cue to take up vis-à-vis Kyrgios once the tour moves onward.
Given that Kyrgios’ verbosity speaks louder than his game sometimes, it is about time one stopped paying attention to his verbal inputs – however controversial they may be. Moreover, almost every time that he has let himself loose verbally, he has failed to impress on the court. As he did after his disrespectful comments about Novak Djokovic – and his on-court, post-win celebration – in his appearance in the No Challenges Remaining (NCR) podcast at the Italian Open, in Rome.
Soon after the release of the podcast, Kyrgios had a temper tantrum in his second-round match against Casper Ruud. It resulted in him getting disqualified from the match. His disqualification also lent to suggestions about him receiving punitive action – from suspension to lifetime ban – away from the sport.
However, for someone who perhaps likes to spend his time away from the court for whatever reason possible – even with dubious illnesses before the start of events that suck – the best way to punish him would be to not pay him any attention. Not only when he makes ridiculous comments and follows them up with ludicrous on-court exploits. But also, when he is at the top of the game, building up expectations that he invariably ends up smashing not long thereafter.
