'Tennis needs them': Truth about Nick Kyrgios and Eugenie Bouchard

Nick Kyrgios and Eugenie Bouchard cop their fair share of criticism for failing to live up to expectations.

However they are both exactly what tennis needs.

That’s the opinion of tennis writer Lorenzo Ciotti, who believes Kyrgios and Bouchard’s results on the court aren’t the be-all and end-all.

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Despite struggling to live up to the lofty expectations that followed them when they burst onto the scene, Ciotti believes “Kyrgios and Bouchard make tennis transversal and multidimensional.”

Ciotti says both stars bring new fans to the game, whether it be through their on-court actions or social media presence.

“[Kyrgios’] bad boy attitudes that annoy Rafael Nadal always attract new attention and even new fans, intrigued by the young Australian's behaviour,” he wrote for Tennis World in an article titled ‘Why tennis needs Nick Kyrgios and Eugenie Bouchard’.

“Kyrgios always manages to give food for thought, perhaps often politically incorrect, sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating. A tennis player of his talent, however, must aspire to more important events, but it is still good for tennis.”

As for Bouchard, Ciotti doesn’t think the Canadian needs to have overwhelming success on the court to be a success in herself.

“Among the covers of some magazines, some of her declarations and, above all, her activity on social media, she became one of the most popular tennis players of this era,” he wrote.

“Despite borderline and disappointing performances, Kyrgios and Bouchard are two very important players for the game, giving three-dimensionality and a different and wider image of what a star is.”

Nick Kyrgios’ sad admission about career

Bouchard is currently floundering outside the world’s top 300, despite once being World No.5 and making the Wimbledon final.

As for Kyrgios, his career was summed up by recent comments he made about why a full-time coach would be ‘pointless’.

Kyrgios has spurned approaches from a raft of big names keen on helping the sport's most enigmatic talent fulfil his potential, but says he’s he too selfish and set in his ways to employ a full-time mentor.

“Personally, I think (hiring a coach) is a little bit of a waste of money ‘cause I think they get paid way too much,” Kyrgios told his friend Elliot Loney during a candid 45-minute podcast.

“And, for me, I don't have a goal of winning grand slams. I just want to do it my way, have fun with it and just play.

“So to get a coach for me is pointless because I don't want to waste their time almost.

“I just don't think a coach is ready - and I'm not going to put them through it too 'cause it would just be a nightmare.

“Where I'm at my career now, it's just too far gone, I think for a coach, 'cause I'm too set in my ways and I just don't like to listen to advice, to be honest.”

A notoriously poor trainer, Kyrgios has reached two grand slam quarter-finals, a career-high world No.13 and holds the rare distinction of having conquered each of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic when they first met.

But he doubts he'll ever win a slam.

“I don't believe my body will hold up for seven matches at a grand slam, potentially playing three to four hours (each match),” he said.

with AAP