The 2018 season is nearly upon us, and sadly there have already been too many headlines that are apt to have elicited groans from fans around the globe.  Not surprisingly, many of those headlines have concerned a number of top players who have announced that they are battling injuries and have been forced to withdraw from their opening events.  Aside from injuries, however, recent comments by Nick Kyrgios stating that he does not see the need for a coach in 2018 have also likely left more than a few of his fans grumbling and mumbling.

In the few short years that he has been an established pro on the ATP World Tour, the Australian enigma has made fans and pundits scratch their heads in bewilderment with things he has said and done both on and off the court, so his remarks regarding his lack of a need for a coach are hardly out of the ordinary.  And those fans who see the glass as a half full will have taken some positives from Kyrgios's comments, as well.  He has admitted that the amount of time he spent playing basketball this past season contributed to his injury woes, and to be more physically fit on the tennis court, he has cut back his time playing basketball.  He has also hit the gym harder, which is possibly a sign of his growing maturity.  That all said, these positives also make his lack of urgency in finding a full-time coach more frustrating.

It is frustrating because there is little doubt that he has the talent to go to the top.  He is one of the most gifted shot-makers in the sport, and he is one of the best natural athletes on tour.  Those attributes have already propelled him to a career-high ranking of Number 13.  But he needs to guard against that impressive success lulling him into a false sense of security.  His sentiments that he has “pretty much done it all alone” the last three years are disingenuous to those who have assisted him.  Friends, family, and those who have temporarily filled the role of coach at one time or another, such as Lleyton Hewitt and Sebastian Grosjean, were all instrumental in helping him become a top player.  And, as any decorated champion will attest, while tennis at its core may be an individual sport, it takes a team to reach the highest pinnacles of success.  A key component of that team is the coach.  It is the coach who enhances strengths and shores up weaknesses.  It is the coach who formulates the strategic plan for success against any given opponent, and it is the coach that is in the best position to analyze a charge's match performance and help the charge grow from it.  These are all benefits Kyrgios is missing out on by not having a coach.

Of course, presently it is probably a good thing Kyrgios is not in the market for a coach, as by his own admission, he is not ready for one.  No partnership could survive that mindset, no matter how great the coach.  Kyrgios also has it right that the coach he chooses must be someone he feels he can gel with and has his best interests at heart.  But Kyrgios is walking a bit of a tightrope with his recent comments.  While players have to be careful in who they opt to bring onto their team, his suggestion that someone could easily just be looking for some quick cash is a little on the insulting side.  He may be a promising prospect, but he is hardly the hottest commodity on tour.  Many equally and more accomplished players have hired new coaches with not nearly the amount of qualms.  Kyrgios also must understand the amount of baggage he brings to the table.  If not some already, there are going to be some stellar coaches out there who will not want to touch him with a ten-foot pole, because they do not want to saddle themselves with someone whose commitment to the game is suspect.  The longer he takes to mature, the more a list of prime coaching candidates may dwindle.

Naturally, Kyrgios will do what he wants when he wants, just as he has always done.  How he fairs in the opening months of 2018 will also likely play a guiding role in his decision making.  But he would be wise to take a page out of Alexander Zverev's book.  The young German's professionalism and decision to get a real coach is a big part of the reason why he passed the Australian in the rankings and has already bagged two Masters shields. It is a shining example of what can happen when all the pieces are put in place.  Kyrgios is taking steps in that direction, and for the sake of his fans and his own career, hopefully, he will continue in that vein by finding a coach sooner rather than later.