'Bad-Boy' Nick Kyrgios Finds a Fan At Last. And It's Tennis Supermodel Eugenie Bouchard
Eugenie Bouchard finds Nick Kyrgios 'energetic and charismatic' even though the Australian player is widely regarded as being a 'brat.'
Hardly anyone has had a kind word to say about him in recent weeks. Ripped and reprimanded in equal measure after passing lewd comments against Stanislas Wawrinka's girlfriend during a match, Aussie Nick Kyrgios has become quite the tennis pariah. But Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard has explained why a temperamental Kyrgios may do the sport more good than harm.
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Kyrgios had sledged Wawrinka in Montreal recently. Kyrgios' on-court comment to Wawrinka that his compatriot and friend Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with the Swiss' girlfriend, Donna Vekic, prompted a storm of controversy in tennis.
The 20-year-old Kyrgios was fined 4,700 Pounds for the lewd comments, which were picked up by a courtside microphone. In them, he is heard telling Wawrinka: "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate." Wawrinka called Kyrgios "unacceptable"
Up against tough competition in US Open 2015, the Aussie now faces a slew of on-court challenges - apart from the risk of fans' ire at Flushing Meadows. Bouchard though is more sympathetic than most would choose to be.
"He's a great up and coming player and really interesting and at the end of the day, he's good for the game and I think he brings something different," the 21-year-old Bouchard has been quoted as saying in media reports.
Although legends like John McEnroe feels 'volatile' Kyrgios may be a victim of enormous pressure, Bouchard - the 2014 Wimbledon finalist - has a completely different take.
"Nick is energetic and charismatic and that's a really unique thing that we don't have so much on the tour. So, I think we need people like him on the tour," said the player, who is also a supermodel signed with IMG, the world's top sports management company.