Kyrgios has had a wonderful run in 2022 (Courtesy: Reuters)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Kyrgios has had a great run in 2022
- The Australian made it to the final of Wimbledon where he lost to Djokovic
- Laver feels we will see a different Kyrgios next year
Tennis great Rod Laver has backed Nick Kyrgios for success after his incredible run to the final of this year’s Wimbledon and said that the Australian has all the ability in the world.
Kyrgios had an incredible run at the Championships where he faced off against Novak Djokovic in the final. Despite his best efforts, the Australian ended up on the losing side.
The 27-year-old also made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time this year and was impressive as he knocked then-World No.1 Daniil Medvedev on his way to the last eight.
Laver, as quoted by Reuters, told The Telegraph Kyrgios has all the ability in the world and said he was thrilled to see his compatriot reach the final. He said that his defeat was down to lack of self-belief.
“Kyrgios has all the ability in the world, every shot that you could wish to make,” Laver, the only player to complete the calendar Grand Slam twice, told The Telegraph.
“He’s probably one of the biggest servers in the game. He’s accurate, he can play under pressure. I was thrilled that he reached the final, but he didn’t think he could win Wimbledon.”
Laver went on to say that the performance at Wimbledon made Kyrgios realize that he is good enough to hang with the best in the business and next year the fans would see a different player.
“It hit home for him, I think,” said Laver, who has in the past criticised Kyrgios. “He realised, ‘I am good enough, I can do this’. That was the greatest thing that happened to him.
“He knows that he can play and compete now. Don’t walk on the court thinking, ‘If I get three games, that’s enough’.
“Now he’s thinking, ‘Next year? Wimbledon? You’re going to see a different player’.”
