Did Nick Kyrgios really deserve the Newcombe Medal over Ash Barty?

OPINION

It's hard to imagine a world in which Nick Kyrgios could win the highest award in Australian tennis when he refuses to represent the national team. Kyrgios took a swipe at Tennis Australia on Tuesday, accusing them of 'disrespect' after he was overlooked for the prestigious Newcombe Medal.

The gong instead went to retired hero Ash Barty, who only played three months of the year before announcing her shock decision to walk away from the sport in March. In those three months the 26-year-old became the first Aussie to win the Australian Open in 44 years, as well as claiming a singles and doubles title in Adelaide.

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On the other hand, Kyrgios had the best year of his controversial career, winning four titles (including the Australian Open doubles crown) and producing a fairytale run to the Wimbledon final where he eventually lost to Novak Djokovic. The only players on the men's tour with a better win percentage in singles in 2022 were Carlos Alcaraz (World No.1), Rafa Nadal (No.2) and Djokovic (No.5).

But despite his outstanding year, the Newcombe Medal still went to Barty - and deservedly so. However Kyrgios took to social media to blast Aussie tennis officials for overlooking him, particularly considering the award has gone to multiple players in past years.

Kyrgios shared a graphic comparing his year with Barty's on Instagram writing: "LOL. No respect at all. I don't give a f***." A number of fans were also left questioning why Kyrgios was overlooked, with many suggesting Barty and Kyrgios could have been named joint winners.

But how could Kyrgios really expect to win the gong when he seemingly refuses to play for the Australian Davis Cup team? Kyrgios hasn't played the World Cup of men's tennis since 2019, and reportedly rejected calls from captain Lleyton Hewitt and star player Alex de Minaur to return to the team for their finals campaign in Malaga last month.

While Hewitt and De Minaur were leading Australia to their first Davis Cup final in 19 years, Kyrgios was resting up in preparation to play a controversial exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. When asked about his decision not to play Davis Cup, Kyrgios said it was an easy decision and hinted at a lack of respect from the Australian public as to his reluctance.

"Maybe if Australia embraced me a little bit more, I would play it and bring home the trophy," he told AAP. "But who knows? Adding another week in Europe in Malaga wasn't really what was on my wish list. If it was in Australia, maybe it would have been a different story. But who knows?

"It's not always easy for me to erase everything in Australia that's said negatively about me or my family, you don't need that. So it's interesting that they really want me to play, but are always criticising."

Kyrgios said a lot had gone down between himself and Australian fans early in his career that he hasn't forgotten about. "I don't forget the first seven years of my career ... They can't just pick and choose," he said. "Look, I've always been one of the best players in the world - I've always held up my fair share of the bargain towards Australia.

"I feel like this is the first year I've earned respect when it should have been given when I first came on tour. I've represented them, put them on the map, and having produced one of the most successful male years in the last decade for Australia, and am only just getting embraced (now), I don't think that's my fault."

Ash Barty an easy choice for Newcombe Medal

As for the man the Newcombe Medal is named after, John Newcombe helped Australia win five Davis Cup titles - in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1973. As for Kyrgios, he recently admitted he'll always do what's in his best interest.

"At this point of my career, I'll always do what's best for me," he said. "I can travel around the world playing exhibitions around this time of year for six figures - you know I feel I put myself in that position - so it's an easy one for me.

"I'll easily take time with my family and my girlfriend and enjoy experiences around the world and earn that type of money rather than play a week away in something where I wouldn't be able to be with my girlfriend and I'm not getting paid that well. (That) doesn't really make sense to me and my progression as an athlete."

It's hard to believe someone like Barty would ever not play in the Billie Jean King Cup for Australia no matter how much money is on offer.

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