Australian great Wally Masur praises Nick Kyrgios’s attitude and passion for helping and encouraging young players
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Nick Kyrgios and Wally Masur
Nick Kyrgios might prove to be a major blow to his ATP Finals qualification chances this year after he withdrew from his quarter-final match in the singles category at the Japan Open citing a knee issue that had been bothering him for quite a time and has been exaggerated due to not getting enough rest. With his consistent performances throughout the year, he achieved his career-best rankings.
The Aussie reached new heights in his career by reaching the finals at Wimbledon which was his maiden singles final appearance in the Grand Slam tournaments followed by his double triumph at Citi Open. Wally Masur, a former professional player from Australia is totally impressed with Kyrgios and highly praised him for his incredible performances. He even highlighted his passion for helping young potential players and also encourages them through his experiences.
Wally Masur said that “Nick has been living in Sydney and two days later after the Australian Open, he was on the court with a young Australian player James McCabe. He spends time with them, he’s talking tennis with them, he’s encouraging them and he is a really good mentor to a lot of these kids coming through.“
“I was really encouraged with the way he was playing” Wally Masur on Nick Kyrgios
Masur further recalled one of the conversations with Nick Kyrgios after he won the doubles title at the Australian Open which showed his hunger to keep achieving more. Masur even stated that his absence from the Tour due to the pandemic gave him the required motivation.
Masur added that “I said to Nick, ‘mate, well done, you’re a Grand Slam champion. He sort of said sheepishly, yeah, it’s only doubles. Winning that whet his appetite for more. After Covid and separation from the tour, he was kind of realizing what he’d missed. And boy, did he light it up at Wimbledon. I was really encouraged by not just the result, but the way he was playing.“
Kyrgios had a good start to the Northern American swing when he won his 7th singles ATP title at the Citi Open. He had reached the quarter-finals of the US Open but lost to Karen Khachanov. After his withdrawal from Japan Open, he will next play at the Swiss Indoors in Basel which is scheduled from 24-30 October.
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Prateek Pradhan
(601 Articles Published)