The Nick Kyrgios bandwagon is swelling by the second but the in-form tennis star has reminded those yet to jump on that he’s still just a 21-year-old human being.
The world No.16 was at his scintillating best on Friday as he beat American John Isner in straight sets to give Australia a deserved 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie in Brisbane.
The dejected, disinterested Kyrgios who crashed out of the Australian Open earlier this year was nowhere to be found.
The new model, which has been building a head of steam since that second-round meltdown against Andreas Seppi, is fully committed and focused for the entire match – not just when it’s easy to be.
But for those who are starting to change their minds on him, Kyrgios has one message: you’re late.
“I feel like I’ve had some decent results rather than just the last couple of months,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve played some pretty good tennis for my whole career.
“I definitely feel like I’ve really put in an effort to try and do it consistently.
“I’ve never been able to be consistent. I’m only human.
“People tend to forget that I am only 21. I think I’m getting there.”
Kyrgios had the crowd at Pat Rafter Arena in the palm of his hand as he wrestled victory from Isner, who said he felt like he would have beaten most other players in the world with his performance.
Coming after Jordan Thompson’s boilover against Jack Sock, the win means Australia can move into the Davis Cup semis if they win Saturday’s doubles rubber.
John Peers and Sam Groth are due to take on Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, but Australian skipper Lleyton Hewitt suspects the Americans might change things up, possibly by injecting Sock into the mix.
Davis Cup rules allow teams to change their nominated doubles players up until an hour before the match.
“We have our ideas who they would like to play,” Hewitt said.
“Whether it pans out that way, I’m not sure.
“We’ve prepared, we’ve done everything right. No matter who goes out there for us I’ll be quietly confident that they’re going to play well.”
