In the aftermath of his latest outburst, Nick Kyrgios says he's trying to clean up his act on court, and isn't in a hurry to hire a new coach for help in the process.
Kyrgios was hit with a $1,500 fine for audible obscenity during his 6-3, 6-2 win over Andreas Haider-Maurer in Shanghai.
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"You're not going to see Roger or Rafa or any of those guys playing on a court like that, though. They're always playing on center court where things usually go pretty smoothly," said Kyrgios, who was annoyed by a court-side cameraman. "They're not going to have the cameraman talking in the middle of the point on center court. Definitely those guys are more mature, definitely deal with it a bit better than I do at this stage."
The world No. 32 could be hit with a 28-day ban if he exceeds $5,000 in fines at ATP events through February 24th.
Still, the 20-year-old Aussie, who faces sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori in the Shanghai Rolex Masters tomorrow, said he doesn't "think a coach is necessary right now."
"I don't have a coach at the moment. Nothing's changed there," Kyrgios told the media in Shanghai. "I'm definitely looking. But at the same time I think I've been playing some really good tennis. When I went home after New York, I just decided I was going to put a lot of work in. I was on the practice court every day, three, four hours, just pushing myself."
Davis Cup teammate Lleyton Hewitt served as a mentor and coach for Kyrgios during the lead up to the US Open. Kyrgios lost to third-ranked Andy Murray in the Flushing Meadows first round.
Since then, Krygios reached the Kuala Lumpur semifinals and the Tokyo quarterfinals. He scored singles and doubles victories in Shanghai openers. Kyrgios partnered Davis Cup teammate Bernard Tomic to a victory over former Wimbledon doubles champions Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock.
Kyrgios said his results in recent weeks reinforces his belief he doesn't need a coach.
"I know what I need to get better at in my game. I don't think a coach is necessary right now," Kyrgios said. "I don't think there's any rush to get one. The last few weeks have been really good. I think I've played some good tennis. I think I'm going okay at the moment. "
One of the most controversial shots of the North American summer season came right ouf Kyrgios' mouth when he made a crude comment about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend, WTA player Donna Vekic, and Thanasi Kokkinakis, Nick's buddy and Davis Cup teammate.
Facing critical fall-out from his actions and playing with a provisional suspension over his head are challenges, but Kyrgios says he feels the experience has helped him "pick up his act" in recent weeks.
"To be honest, I'm not thinking about it too much. I know it's there. But, you know, I'm still showing a lot of emotion," said Kyrgios. "I feel as if it's helped me a little bit, everything that's happened in the last couple months. I feel like I've definitely picked up my act a little bit. But I'm playing well and I'm enjoying myself, so that's what matters."
Kyrgios concedes he would benefit from the discipline a coach could provide.
"I think I'm the kind of guy I think I know what I have to do. It's actually doing it," he said. "You know, that's just getting up and practicing and stuff like that. I tend to just sometimes not do any of that stuff.
"But I think I just need more someone to just guide me through, you know, organizing practices and stuff like that. I mean, I think moving forward the best decision for me is to definitely find that person who can maybe help me get my game better."