On a television camera lens, Kyrgios wrote “74 + 89 R.I.P.” in tribute to grandmother Julianah Foster, who died in 2014 at 74, and grandfather Christos Kyrgios, who died in April. “He never missed a match. That was one thing,” Kyrgios said.
“And my grandma that passed away, she was pretty much my mum for the most part of my life. I have been pretty crazy ever since she left. They were unbelievable support. It was tough. I can’t really talk about it too much.”
Kyrgios often mentions how little tennis means in the overall scheme of things, as he cherishes time with family and friends. “There are other things that are more important to me than tennis,” Kyrgios said. “It’s just a game. There’s worse things happening in the world right now than me losing. That’s part of the reason I can’t take it so seriously.
“I’ve had family members that have passed away and I didn’t get to see them enough because of tennis and I guess that could be a reason why I can’t really give myself fully to the game as well.”
Kyrgios, 22, has battled through a nagging left hip injury, but not all his issues were physical. “I’ve just been going through a load of stuff that has distracted me from just trying to play some tennis and hopefully I’m just trying to get on the right track again,” Kyrgios said.
“I’m starting to, slowly. My grandpa passed away. Had some off-court issues. My head has been all over the place. I just haven’t had that confidence in closing out big matches.”
But he has shined this week, ousting next week’s world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. “When he feels good and wants to play, he’s great,” second-ranked Simona Halep said.
After losing to Kyrgios, Ferrer said the Aussie could someday be number one. “Nick is young guy. He’s a nice guy. He’s improving every year and he’s the future,” Ferrer said.