Agassi endorses Kyrgios’ crusade for kids

Andre Agassi has applauded Nick Kyrgios’ drive to help underprivileged children and hopes the crusade proves a turning point in the 22-year-old’s life and tennis career – as the American’s did for him.

Kyrgios has set up the NK Foundation and, with his brother Christos, is establishing a shelter in Melbourne where troubled youth can play tennis, basketball, and swim.

The Andre Agassi Foundation for Education in Las Vegas has raised $US180 million ($A225 million) and the eight-time grand slam champion was thrilled to learn of Kyrgios’ new selfless pursuit.

“Well that’s great to hear. I haven’t heard about that,” Agassi told AAP at the Australian Open.

“It’s familiar words because I remember feeling that way. I remember feeling like I needed to find my reason and hopefully he’s found his because I can tell you there’s no better reason to find than helping children.

“So to hear him doing that is good on him for that.”

Like Kyrgios, Agassi polarised sports fans when he burst on to the scene as a teenage tennis punk in the mid-1980s.

He transformed himself into world No.1 and is now respected globally for his philanthropy as much as for his on-court accomplishments, including being one of only eight men to have completed a career grand slam sweep of the Australian, French and US Open and Wimbledon titles.

Agassi hopes Kyrgios – who is yet to make a grand slam semi-final – can also fulfil his undoubted potential and believes his charity endeavours can only help.

“He’s one of the great talents that’s stepped on the court so what he’s capable of is remarkable,” said Agassi, at Melbourne Park in his dual role as a global ambassador for Lavazza and coaching advisor to six-time Open champion Novak Djokovic.

“You never know if someone can go to the finish line until they do but, certainly from a talent perspective, he’s as gifted as they come.

“So it should be a matter of time, unless he sort of doesn’t choose to for some reason.

“Obviously it’s hard to save a man from himself and if he has other agendas for his life, then he has other agendas.

“But when I see him inside those lines, he’s one of the few guys you’d pay to watch.”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!