When talking about the new wave of ATP tennis stars, the name of Nick Kyrgios is most likely to emerge. Now on the right track, things weren't easy for Kyrgios over the past few years or so, with his name making the headlines but not in the most laudable ways. Aside from the controversy, his game of tennis is worth watching and the signs of his latest tennis court appearances indicate a bright future. Mutua Madrid Open is the first Clay court event in which he entered so far this season. He was about to have a warm-up last week in Estoril, Portugal but an unfortunate event (his grandfather died) forced him to withdraw.
It seems that he has learned how to handle things properly by drawing a clear line between his personal life and his career as a tennis pro.
Nick Kyrgios shares the board with Nadal, Raonic, and Goffin
The third quarter of the main draw is perhaps the most exciting one simply because it can produce some outstanding encounters. Having three top 10 players and Kyrgios floating around, the premises are quite appealing.In the opening round, Kyrgios got past Marcos Baghdatis (64 ATP) in straight sets. His tennis was as it is supposed to be with Kyrgios directing the play from behind his service game. It was a flawless performance from the 22-year-old who will face Ryan Harrison (47 ATP) next. The third round could put Rafael Nadal and Kyrgios on the same battlefield.
If he'll reach the last eight stages, Kyrgios could face one of his younger rivals as Milos Raonic or David Goffin are expected to move deeper into the contest. Eventually, the semis could put Novak Djokovic on the other side of the net, a player Kyrgios ousted twice this season. Ranked 20th in the world, the Aussie star has to defend last year's result when he reached the quarterfinals where he went on losing to Kei Nishikori.
The high expectations revolving around Kyrgios are not there by accident
Although his ranking plunged lately especially due to inactivity, Kyrgios delivered a solid game of tennis in the first part of the season. Following his yesterday's first win in Madrid, he is now at a 17/4 win/loss ratio this season. Those are some compelling numbers for a guy who wasn't certain about his future in this sports a few months ago.
The recently ended hardcourt session put Kyrgios on the radar after he proved his ability to match his game to those from the very top. Perhaps one of the most thrilling matches of the season, his encounter against Federer in Miami, established him as a worth-watching player in 2017.
