Face of Nation : A quick look at social media on Tuesday night provided an illuminating insight into the contrasting state of Australian tennis.
Those staying up late to watch newly minted world No. 1 Ash Barty open her Wimbledon campaign lashed out on Twitter because Channel 7 was instead prioritising Nick Kyrgios’s clash against countryman Jordan Thompson.
It’s not always wise to take your cues from the sometimes cesspool of hate that is social media, but on this occasion the message was clear from Down Under: more golden girl, less tennis brat.
In what is still a relatively young career, Kyrgios has polarised not just his own country but the world — and it’s likely to stay that way until he puts the racquet down for good. Some people love the X-factor he provides, others can’t stand his on-court antics and the sense he’s wasting his potential.
On the other hand, it’s impossible to find a bad word said about Barty. Serena Williams said as much on the weekend.
“I don’t know anyone that has anything negative to say about her,” Williams said. “She’s like the sweetest, cutest girl on tour. She’s so nice.”
The love for Australia’s newest hero has flowed freely, and the nation has grabbed the down-to-earth Queenslander and held her aloft as a shining example of everything we crave in a sporting icon. Polite and well-mannered off the court, ferociously competitive on it.
Kyrgios has never enjoyed that same warm embrace from the country he calls home. Nothing he does will ever be good enough to warrant universal praise, and it’s too late for many of the haters to change their opinions of him.
But looking at Barty’s ascension, does he ever wish Australia showed him the same support it’s showering on her?
“No. I don’t ever wish that,” Kyrgios said after the win over Thompson.
“What she’s doing is incredible. I knew as soon as she got her head right and wanted it enough, the sky’s the limit for her. She’s incredibly talented.
“We played juniors together. She was going out there with ease, beating people.
“I knew deep down she was always capable. When she took that year off, came back, she seemed to be refreshed. Now she’s winning grand slams. Doesn’t surprise me at all.
“I’m happy that she’s got all the support. She deserves it.
“Ash, what she’s doing on the tennis court now is pretty special. I actually told a lot of people that I thought she was going to win Wimbledon as well.”
Hearing Barty speak after she got off to the perfect start with a straight sets, opening round win at the All England Club, it’s clear she doesn’t aim to be anything exceptional. While she knows plenty of people look up to her, she’s happy just being a tennis player.
But that doesn’t mean her influence can’t extend beyond the tennis court, and if it does, she wants to make sure that influence is the right one.
“I think I try and be a role model by just setting an example when I play. I don’t try to do anything extra. If I can make a difference into one person’s life, it would be incredible,” Barty said.
“For me, it’s just about trying to go about my business the right way. I’m very lucky to have family, my parents in particular brought me up in a very respectful and certain way. I try to live by that every single day regardless of whether I’m on the tennis court or just living my everyday life.
“For me, I try to do the best that I can every single day. If that can inspire any person around the world, that would be incredible.”
Post-match, Barty spoke glowingly about the warm reception she received striding out onto court No. 1 as she embarked on the challenge of winning a second straight major after claiming the French Open title — her maiden grand slam singles triumph — last month.
It’s a reception Kyrgios — who holds no ambition of being a role model — doesn’t always enjoy. Sure, there are always plenty of fans cheering him on in the stands — as there were on Tuesday — but the level of admiration reserved for him will never reach Barty’s level.
But even though the 24-year-old says it’s “not nice to wake up and hear” negative things being said about him, he’s not chasing love. Instead, he’s chasing eyeballs, whether they belong to people who like him or not.
“I’m never going to change. I used to be like this when I played under-12s, 14s. I just go out there, have fun, play the game how I want it to be played,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I know people are going to watch. They can say the way I play isn’t right or he’s classless for the sport, all that sort of stuff. They’re probably still going to be there watching. Doesn’t really make sense.”
Fans may be unified in their love of Barty, but they’re certainly split over Kyrgios, and while they’re conflicted, the man himself is too. Does he perform better when he’s relaxed and engaged, like he was when sharing jokes with spectators in the first set against Thompson? Or does he go up a gear when finding something to get angry about, like he did when he won the third-set tie-break?
“I don’t think I’ve figured that out yet because my behaviour probably would be a little bit better,” he said.
“I honestly don’t know. I mean, when I have a lot of energy, I play well. My emotions tend to come out a little bit more.
“When I’m calm, I probably don’t play as unpredictable, probably don’t entertain as much. It’s trying to find that balance.”
And if there’s one thing that sits above all else on Kyrgios’s list of priorities, it’s entertaining.
“The sport has a serious problem with that (entertainment). I mean, just because I’m different, I go about it a different way, it causes a stir,” he said.
“I understand that people are different and people are going to play different. If everyone was the same, it would be very boring, no?
“I don’t think there’s a shortage of entertainers. I just think people go about it differently. Different perspectives. I don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to understand that.”
Part of the entertainment of watching Kyrgios is waiting for the moment the dam wall finally bursts and all the self-mutterings and side-eyes turn into full-blown explosions. Like in Rome earlier this year when he threw a chair on the court and defaulted a match against Casper Ruud.
There’s no telling who Kyrgios will lash out at on any given day. On Tuesday, it was line judges, the umpire and people talking too loudly in the crowd who copped verbal sprays.
At one stage a member of his entourage received a talking to — hardly a rare occurrence — but the Canberra product says a lot of his outbursts come in the heat of the moment, and he doesn’t mean what he says when talking down to those who just want to help.
One thing’s for certain, you won’t hear anybody talk down to Barty.
