The Blue Zones diet is awesome – except for one unfortunate flaw
Find out if a plant-based diet, daily activity, and community involvement can help you achieve a longer, healthier life
Here we go again. The Australian Open is in full swing. It has now been 45 years since a local man won it. And seasonal tennis fans are wondering whether this could be Nick Kyrgios’ year.
Take it from me: it won’t be.
Kyrgios might make it to the second week, but probably not. If he gets past Ugo Humbert tonight (no certainty – Humbert is the higher-ranked player), his probable third-round opponent is Dominic Thiem, last year’s US Open champ and the world No. 3. That feels like curtains for Kyrgios. But even if it’s not, the end won’t be far away.
Why the pessimism? Why the negativity? Why the need to cut down an emerging champion possessed of such extraordinary talent?
None of those things is the reason I’m writing him off. I’m writing him off because he doesn’t have what it takes to win seven matches in a fortnight.
The flashy stuff Kyrgios brings to the court – the no-look volleys, the tweeners, the drop shots on serve – gets your matches televised and draws gasps from fans who might otherwise have started to feel bored. But it does not win you grand-slam titles.
Grand slams are won by equally gifted players who can maintain a laser focus – not for a few minutes or a few games or a couple of sets, but in seven matches against increasingly lethal opponents.
Kyrgios has reached two grand-slam quarter finals in his career. He made it that far at Wimbledon in 2014 and at the Australian Open the following year. Don’t get me wrong: they’re fine accomplishments. Magnificent. But they’re a long way short of winning a final.
Over the years, a lot of what Kyrgios has shown us – and a lot of what he’s told us – lead to an inescapable conclusion: he lacks the champion’s work ethic and he lacks the champion’s mind.
Can he develop those things? Maybe. I’ve got my doubts, though. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s 25. He was ranked 13th in the world in 2016. He’s now 47th.
In any given match, as well as the trick shots, you count on Kyrgios serving huge and crunching a bunch of forehands. You can also assume there’ll be periods of sulking, ill temper and compromised application.
That doesn’t make him a failure, a bad person, a disgrace to the game or anything else of the sort. It just makes him a massive long shot at the big events.
More From
Find out if a plant-based diet, daily activity, and community involvement can help you achieve a longer, healthier life
Donald Trump is struggling to stay awake during his criminal trial. Here's what happens when you go cold turkey on caffeine
Can you knock out 50 push-ups? Then you might be ready to try typewriter push-ups, the toughest of all push-up variations
The Western Bulldogs superstar is working diligently on his rehab as he prepares his body for a return to the field sooner rather than later. As Smith told MH at the Australian F1 Grand Prix last weekend, being away from footy has only deepened his love of the game
How superstar Lenny Kravitz stays ripped as he approaches 60 years old. His body has to be seen to be believed
This total-body burner is a test of endurance, strength and determination. Use these tips to record a sky-high score
Eating all the fat you want sounds like a delicious way to lose the weight – but is it worth sacrificing carbs?
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was a popular Australian Grand Prix winner on Sunday in front of a record crowd. Stewart Bell was there to witness it
After enduring a year that would have broken most people, the surprise star of the Tokyo Olympics and Ralph Lauren Fragrances campaign face is feeling relaxed, confident and determined ahead of the Paris Games. As he tells Men’s Health at this week’s Australian Grand Prix, that’s when he’s at his best