Kyrgios not setting himself up for success, warns tennis great

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander has urged Nick Kyrgios to play more matches on Australian Open's center court if he's serious about winning his home Grand Slam. Wilander said Australian needs to get used to playing at Rod Laver Arena, rar than sticking to his favoured Melbourne Arena, a smaller but rowdier venue. Kyrgios played his first three matches at Melbourne Arena but n lost to world number one Rafael Nal at Rod Laver Arena late Monday, going down in four sets.

"Something that goes along with being a great player is setting yourself up for failure or success," Wilander told AFP.

"So if you set yourself up for playing those matches on Melbourne Arena because that's where you think you have best chance to win, you're clearly t thinking about winning tournament, r is tournament organisation."

Kyrgios, with his booming serve and flamboyant nature, is one of tennis's greatest talents but in seven trips to Melbourne Park, his best result is reaching quarter-finals in 2015. It's a pattern repeated elsewhere as 24-year-old, so often hampered by his volatile temper, has only reached one or Grand Slam quarter-final, at Wimbledon in 2015. Kyrgios, who was handed a 16-week suspended ban in September, has cut a tably calmer figure in Melbourne but he always looked second-favourite against Nal.

"He comes in here (Rod Laver Arena) and he gets neutralised and he gets stale and he gets tired," Wilander said.

"Emotionally it's too draining to suddenly t have crowd behind you and play for you only when you don't get applause for drop shots or tweeners or ace on second serve.

"You're t setting yourself up as one of guys that believe y can win." Wilander said Kyrgios is a "breath of fresh air, brilliant tennis player".

"I would love to see Nick Kyrgios turn it on and be one of best players in world. But re's a lot more that you have to do to be considered one of m," said Swede.

He ded: "I have feeling for Nick Kyrgios until he wins a tennis match where t everybody is rooting for him, and it's 50-50, and it's one of best players in world, and he goes through whole match, wins it and backs it up next day.

"He is a great talent in terms of physical ability but unfortunately physical talent is t only talent you need."