New-look Nick: I’m a changed man

Tennis wild child Nick Kyrgios insists he’s mended his ways, making the point after a low-key – by his standards – defeat of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday at the Cincinnati Masters.

The Wimbledon finalist who won the Washington hardcourt title this month, reached the second round in Ohio 7-5, 6-4 over his Spanish opponent.

With his antics limited to some ongoing verbal bickering with his three-person support group and hitting one measly ball into the stands, the No. 28 was well-behaved in victory.

After playing 15 matches over the 16 days of August and winning 14 of them from singles and doubles, the 27-year-old has reason to be chuffed at his tennis level.

But Cincy is also the scene of one of his past tennis crimes, a 2019 on-court meltdown which resulted in two broken racquets, assorted warnings and penalties and a disciplinary fine of USD 113,000.

But according to Kyrgios those days are long gone.

“I’ve played some amazing tennis here and had some crazy outbursts,” he said. “It’s a flip of the coin as to which Kyrgios shows up here.

“Hopefully this time around it’s just a calm, collected — I just want to have a good week before I continue on the good habits and give myself all the best for preparation for the US Open.”

The Aussie also admitted he;’s keen to cut his season short and head home to see his family after what will be more than three nonstop months on the Tour.

The trip has been lucrative – a pair of grass semis in Germany, the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic and a hardcourt title in the US Open run-up this month in Washington.

“I’m just obviously getting to the finish line of my trip,” he said. “I can feel like it’s nearly over. 

“I’ve got the US Open after this and then back home. That’s kind of in the back of my mind.

“I’ve just been giving everything every day on the practice court, match court.

“Definitely I can feel my tank getting to the end. I’ve just gotta keep going, gotta keep going. Only two events left.”

Main photo:- Nick Kyrgios wins in Cincy – by ATPTour.com