Kyrgios rubbishes 'bad boy' tag

Nick Kyrgios is candid, emotional, and even “stupid” as he would say, but he won’t change himself for the world. He loves being himself. He would insist he is not the bad boy of tennis, the way he was identified to be in 2015. The youngster, though, people to know that he is learning, that it is a journey and he has matured after enduring a tough season off court.

The 20-year-old’s image took a beating in August when he was involved in an on-court slur with Stanislas Wawrinka. The Australian said he has grown since that incident.

“I am not a bad boy at all. I just go out there to win, sometimes emotions get the best of me. I don’t know where this image came from,” said Kyrgios.

“I wouldn’t change anything, regret anything, it is a journey, you just learn things along the way, and learnt a lot of things over the year.”

Awkwardly, Wawrinka has joined Singapore Slammers, the team Kyrgios plays for. He, however, said they both have moved on from that incident.

“Everyone’s sort of excited or curious to know how it’s going to turn out with Wawrinka. For me it’s all done and been a long time, we have both moved on since then, he has moved on too and played some unbelievable tennis.

“He’s a great champion and won Grand Slams, he understands that I am young. I do some stupid stuff, and if he is playing singles I will do whatever is needed off me, get a drink of water and do whatever I can to make him win,” said Kyrgios.