Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios is a "very exciting player to watch," but he has "crossed the line way too many times" and needs to learn respect for the game, according to Tennis Channel's Tracy Austin. Kyrgios has been in the headlines since on-court microphones last week picked up comments he made to Stan Wawrinka about fellow player Thanasi Kokkinakis having previously slept with Wawrinka's girlfriend, Donna Vekic. Austin said, "We just don't do things like that in our game." She added, "You need villains, but he just crossed the line." Tennis Channel's James Blake said, “You do need that villain, you need someone that’s being himself out there. Unfortunately, what we saw is not always the way we like it.” He added, “I don’t agree with what he did, I don’t think it’s good at all. But I do think having a personality, showing that personality (is good for the game).” Blake noted Kyrgios' personality might be "good (for) the sport in general, but he does need to reel it in” ("Western & Southern Open," Tennis Channel, 8/18). ESPN's Jemele Hill believes Kyrgios is good for tennis, because there is "something to be said for controversy, drawing people in that might not already have been drawn in.” But ESPN’s Michael Smith said tennis “doesn’t need publicity, they’ve got enough star players to not need this guy to attract attention.” Smith: “This is not some marginal sport we’re talking about. The sport and the game, in both men’s and women’s, is plenty healthy enough without his antics” (“His & Hers,” ESPN2, 8/18).
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote when critics previously have defended Kyrgios "in the name of charisma and personality and color, we were enabling the behavior" that resulted in last week's "abomination." Wertheim: "Some of us helped create this ugliness by sanctioning, defending and in some cases encouraging the build-up behavior. We want color. We want showmen. We want players who acknowledge fans and we want the entertainment factor. We don't mind brashness and kids who challenge authority." He added, "We might be more invested in Kyrgios' fate at the U.S. Open now. But to what end? It isn't building brand loyalty" (SI.com, 8/19).
LET'S BE BRIEF: In Sydney, Jessica Wright reported Kyrgios' "on-court tantrums and foul sledges" are thought to be the reason all PR materials celebrating the 100th anniversary of Australian underwear company Bonds have been "scrubbed clean of references to the tennis bad boy." Bonds Group Marketing Manager Tanya Deans said the brand signed Kyrgios following his breakthrough at Wimbledon in '14 "for a campaign that we did on men's underpants." But she added, "That was a three month deal, so he hasn't been associated with the brand since last October." Wright notes Kyrgios during his time promoting Bonds "infamously made a mess of his job as when he was being paid to plug the undies during media interviews and admitted he either wore Nike Skins or went 'commando' under his shorts" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/20).
