Tennis star John McEnroe tells Australian Open panel he is ‘worried’ about Nick Kyrgios

‘I’m praying for him’: Tennis legend John McEnroe says he is ‘worried’ about Nick Kyrgios but slams the troubled star for ‘not giving 100 per cent’

  • John McEnroe is worried about Nick Kyrgios for not doing his best in tennis 
  • ‘I’m pulling for him,’ McEnroe said about the troubled 23-year-old tennis star
  • He said Kyrgios is too young to be written off and needs to be encouraged 
  • His comments come after Kyrgios admitted to struggling with mental health 

Tennis legend John McEnroe said he is ‘worried’ about Nick Kyrgios and praying for him to turn his career around, but wishes the troubled star would try harder. 

McEnroe revealed his concerns about the 23-year-old on Thursday, but criticised Kyrgios for disappointing fans by not making an effort. 

‘I’m worried. I’m pulling for him,’ McEnroe said on the Australian Open panel, Wide World of Sports reported.

‘He [Kyrgios] gets defensive [but] some of this criticism is deserved. In other ways, he does a lot of good things.

‘I’m worried. I’m pulling for him,’ McEnroe (right) said about the troubled 23-year-old tennis star

McEnroe suggested Kyrgios follow the lead of other professional players such as Rafael Nadal and rising teen star Alex De Minaur.

McEnroe suggested Kyrgios follow the lead of other professional players such as Rafael Nadal and rising teen star Alex De Minaur.

‘But you hate to see anyone – whether it’s Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic – any player go on that court and not give that 100 per cent. You feel like you’re owed.’

McEnroe suggested Kyrgios follow the lead of other professional players such as Rafael Nadal and rising teen star Alex De Minaur. 

Remembering the time Kyrgios joined McEnroe at the Rod Laver Cup a couple of years ago, McEnroe said Kyrgios lifted everyone up at the time.

‘I like him a lot, he’s a great kid, he’s a great team player…so hopefully he can do that one his own.’ 

He said Kyrgios is still too young to be written off despite his mood wings and antics and there is ‘real concern’ for the rising star.

In the end it’s all about reaching ‘potential’, McEnroe said. 

His comments come after Kyrgios confessed he is facing his own demons and recently opened up about his struggle with mental health and revealed that he was seeking professional help

His comments come after Kyrgios confessed he is facing his own demons and recently opened up about his struggle with mental health and revealed that he was seeking professional help

His comments come after Kyrgios confessed he is facing his own demons and recently opened up about his struggle with mental health, revealing that he was seeking professional help. 

He said spending so much time away from home has left him mentally exhausted. 

‘I was on the road for almost six months. That was tough for me,’ Kyrgios said.

‘The off-season, being in Canberra at home was unbelievable. To spend time with family – I hadn’t seen my sister in a while and she was back home. 

‘Just spending time with family, friends, taking time away from the sport, I think, mentally recharged me a lot.’

Kyrgios is among eight Australians in action with Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alexei Popyrin, Alex Bolt, Daria Gavrilova, Ajla Tomljanovic, Samantha Stosur and Destanee Aiava also taking part in the event. 

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