Categories: ATPTop StoryWimbledon

Woody tips Kyrgios for Wimbledon – with reservations

Former grass doubles great Todd Woodbridge is prepared to look past the mental fragility of Nick Kyrgios and is tipping the hair-trigger Aussie as a possible Wimbledon title contender.

Woodbridge, who won nine doubles crowns at the All England Club, made his predictions to the Nine Network, saying that Kyrgios has the big game to threaten.

“Nick has trained and is really focused this season, so this is a good start to this grass-court tour,” Woodbridge said.

“If there is any player on the list, other than Djokovic, who can play well enough to beat anyone in weed, that’s Nick.”

Kyrgios, known to flame out in crisis situations – he gave away the weekend Stuttgart semi-final against Andy Murray due to racial heckling from a fan – is hard to predict.

His Wimbledon record is far from solid, with a rookie quarter-final in 2014 superseded by five editions of never passing the fourth round.

“The question to ask him is how he will be able to handle the hype at a new Grand Slam,” Woody said. “He is a very strong candidate and he can go very far at Wimbledon.”

The Aussie commentator then hedged a bit: “Nick’s chances will depend on the draw he faces, that’s going to be really important.

“I wouldn’t want him to be on Novak’s side of the draw, which is a possibility. But I do think a semi-final is a realistic goal.

“In case he reaches the semifinals, if his body is fine and his head is fully settled, anything can happen.”

Kyrgios this week will put last weekend’s drama behind him as a wildcard entry on grass at Halle, northern Germany.

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Halep seething over Swiatek wrist-slap doping penalty

Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…

3 weeks ago

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

1 month ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

1 month ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

1 month ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

1 month ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

2 months ago