This is the Fox Sports headline after Nick Kyrgios lost his third round match to Kei Nishikori at Wimbledon 2018.
“Woeful Kyrgios Crashes Out Against Nishikori”
The Australian media in general hates Nick Kyrgios, and whatever personal opinion is of our number one male tennis player, there is no place for media to continue to pathetically grill the young and talented Kyrgios each time he happens to lose a match.
The headline in this latest case should have been about Nishikori and his brilliant win - a devastating first set put the first serve of Kyrgios under pressure for the whole match, but what the media forgot to report is how Nick contested the rest of the match
Both sets two and three included quality tennis - it just was the day for Nishikori who reminded us that here was a former top five player and 2014 US Open finalist, on the comeback from sustained injury.
Kyrgios had never beaten the Japan number one, and the exquisite defensive skills of Nishikori were on display again.
The ignorant media is quick not to hound players higher ranked than Kyrgios such as last years finalist Marin Cilic who lost to unseeded Guido Pella in round two after taking the first two sets, or fourth seed young gun Sascha Zverev, who gave up a two sets to one lead to eventually lose to qualifier Ernests Gulbis, the last set 6-0.
Many other players lose, and have disappointing days on court. Nick had one of those days, but he didn’t commit a crime - he simply wasn’t good enough and more credit should have been given to Nishikori.
He should have been the headline, NOT Nick.
As a true Australian tennis follower, I dislike intensely the hatred centred by the media on our best male player since Lleyton Hewitt. Divided personal opinion is fine.
I just wish Nick the best as he continues his career on the court, and off the court his great work with those young people less fortunate.
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