Nick Kyrgios sells out stadiums because he has a "strong personality" and "hasn't been neutered enough", according to Emma Raducanu’s former coach Dmitry Tursunov.
Kyrgios is one of the most outspoken players on the ATP Tour and is often one of the sport’s biggest entertainers.
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Sometimes his actions land him in hot water, such as at Wimbledon last year when he spat towards a fan and accused another spectator of being "drunk out of her mind".
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However, former world No. 20 Tursunov thinks Kyrgios stands out because other players are “afraid to show their personality”.
"In tennis they are trying to neuter the emotions out of the sport,” Tursunov said on the Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast.
“Players are afraid to show their personality, to say their minds, because nowadays anything you say can be twisted.
“You say that 'I played great today', someone's going to say that, 'oh, he sounds cocky, he's putting his opponent down.' So players in general are just afraid to be themselves.
"That's why I think Nick Kyrgios sells out every freaking stadium that he plays in because he hasn't been neutered enough. He's been fined enough, but he doesn't mind it. He's a pretty strong personality if you ask me.”
Tursunov, who also spoke his coaching relationship with Raducanu and how he expects the British No. 1 to develop, believes getting the crowd involved is good for the sport.
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"I mean, what's the problem if a player is just throwing a middle finger to the crowd? It looks bad, the whole crowd is booing, but you just got the crowd emotionally involved," he said.
“You got them to hate someone, to feel something, versus can’t fart in the stands, can’t open a bag of chips, throw a racquet…”
Kyrgios has not played competitively this season due to injury.
'A total bummer' - McEnroe gives view on Kyrgios' withdrawal
He pulled out of the United Cup and Australian Open and then underwent surgery on his knee. His manager said he is hopeful that Kyrgios will be fit for Indian Wells, which starts on March 8.
Asked recently on Instagram about the most difficult part of being a tennis player, Kyrgios said: "Honestly, me being the personality that I am... in a sport that likes to stay in a small little box.”
On his recovery, he added: “I’m getting there! Still a long way to go, but can do some extensions... so that's a start!"
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