Australian admits to milkshake and basketball before matches and says his coach deserves better
Wednesday 30 August 2017 23:22, UK
Nick Kyrgios says he is not dedicated enough after a shock first round defeat at the US Open, admitting he keeps letting people down.
Kyrgios had hit back to level the match at one set apiece when he called for treatment to his shoulder but the break led to him losing his way, culminating in a language warning after shouting and slamming his racquet into the floor.
Despite throwing in some huge serves and big winners, the error count went up too as Kyrgios lost interest over the final two sets to end his hopes of a maiden major. It's a common theme for the hugely talented 22-year-old who admitted as much in a surly press conference.
"I keep letting people down," he said. "I'm not dedicated to the game at all. There are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, the one-percenters. I'm not that guy."
Having made a run to the final of the Masters event in Cincinnati, hopes were high that Kyrgios may have finally put himself on a path to living up to his talent but he was adamant he was less dedicated in Ohio where his focus was on basketball and milkshake.
"In Cincinnati, I was not doing anything different. I was probably less dedicated than I was this week. I was playing basketball every day for two hours. I played an hour of basketball before I played David Ferrer in the semi-final.
"I was getting a milkshake every day. I was less dedicated. This week I was dedicated and my shoulder starts hurting."
I'm not having the greatest year like I should have done, but the last three months have been a nightmare, really
Kyrgios was also quick to praise his new coach Sebastien Grosjean who he feels has worked well with him on the training ground and deserves better than, Cincinnati aside, a disappointing run of form.
"I'm not good enough for him. You know, he's very dedicated. He's an unbelievable coach. He probably deserves a player that is probably more dedicated to the game than I am. He deserves a better athlete than me.
"I've had a diabolical year at the Slams. It doesn't surprise me. It's just the story of my career, really. I will have good weeks. I'll have bad weeks. It's just a roller-coaster.
"I'm not having the greatest year like I should have done, but the last three months have been a nightmare, really."
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