US tennis great, John McEnroe says he could see himself working in a consulting role with Aussie youngster, Nick Kyrgios.
Kyrgios, who has shown on countless occasions he has the talent to match it with the best, yet shown just as many times his mental fragility, has caught McEnroe's eye as someone he could work with.
McEnroe has been heavily critical of Kyrgios' attitude and mental toughness at times in recent years, but believes he has the talent to win Wimbledon as early as next month.
The 58-year-old said Kyrgios is the player he would most like to coach, while commentating for EuroSport during the French Open. However, any such partnership would most likely be on a part-time basis.
โIt was only in the last five years that we talked about players starting asking potential coaches to travel part-time, 10 weeks or less. Then it's like, โooh, that's something that could be tailor-made for me,โ McEnroe said.
โThat's something I think could and probably will happen in the future. I have had my own tennis academy the past seven years in New York. It is something that is very satisfying if you can take them to another level.
โThe guy that would make the most sense on paper would be Nick Kyrgios because we are two head cases, but mentally we are a bit wacky.
โI feel like when I start something like I did with Milos (Raonic), I follow him and I want to see him do well and reach his potential.
โA job of a coach is figuring out what makes that person tick, it's not a case of him adapting to me โ it doesn't work like that.
โIt's more that you have to adapt to that person. It really depends on the person.
โAthletically, you can see it's there. He (Kyrgios) has the talent, you have to get yourself in great shape and mentally โ it's the biggest hurdle for anyone.
โWhen I watch him, I get really concerned as I have already seen it happen where he has gone off and disappeared in a match.
โCan you just change? I hope he can learn because he is young and people are trying to get behind him, the ATP Tour people are. I want it to happen.โ
Kyrgios reached the second round at Roland Garros this year, before being knocked out by South African, Kevin Anderson, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
