Grosjean opens up on the 'challenge' of coaching Kyrgios
Sebastien Grosjean has opened up on coaching Nick Kyrgios, outlining what the Australian star needs to focus on for the rest of the year.
The duo linked up ahead of the French Open, where the 22-year-old Kyrgios lost in the second round to Kevin Anderson.
Kyrgios experienced an interrupted lead-up to Roland Garros as he travelled home to Canberra following the death of his grandfather.
A lack of training in that period brought about a recurrence of his ongoing hip problems once he returned to the court, something his French coach hopes will not happen in the future.
“(He needs) to be a little bit more structured, mentally to be a little more tough, work on his fitness," Grosjean told Sport360 at the French Open.
"Because if he’s stronger physically he’ll be tougher mentally, but that’s a process because he was alone for a long time it will take time. But it’s a good challenge and he’s a good kid to be around.”
The former world No.4 Grosjean met Kyrgios in Florida, where he has lived and coached young players since retiring from the tour.
The 39-year-old, who repeated that he cares about his protégé, is the first external coach in Kyrgios's career.
While it may have been considered a risk, given the Australian's propensity to put his emotions on show, Grosjean was forthright in his approach.
"If you only take the easy things... I like the challenge," he said.
"The good thing is we live next door in Boca so we can spend time together on court. That’s the work we’re going to do there that’s going to help him.
"When you’re on tour, when you’re in tournaments, you don’t really work. Normally the work is done before and then we need to compete.
"And that’s the 10, 15 extra per cent make the difference on the tour but before you do that’s the 80-90 per cent you did before."
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Kyrgios's fitness issues came to a head again weeks after the French Open when he retired from his first match at Queen's.
But grass has been his best surface, having reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in 2014 and the fourth round the past two years.
With that in mind Grosjean believes Kyrgios is nearer to a grand slam win than he was at the start of the year – with a catch.
"Yes, he’s closer," he said.
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"Because he’ll have a day off, sometimes you can have two days off. Of course on grass he can do it. He made quarters already.
"I know it’s tough but of course he can do it but he has to spend time and do the right things in the weeks before."