Australian multi-sport paralympic star Dylan Alcott says Nick Kyrgios is the most talented player on the planet and argues the sometimes wayward 23-year-old is completely different behind closed doors to the persona we see on court.
Kyrgios caused more headlines at the Cincinnati Masters last week after a second set meltdown during his match with Borna Coric.
The Aussie tennis star lost the set 6-0 in a matter of minutes and took aim at the umpire in a series of heated outbursts.
Despite the drama, Kyrgios went on to win the match 7-6(1) 0-6 6-3.
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More drama awaited during his round of 16 loss to Juan Martin del Potro, as Kyrgios hit out at a linesman and the chair umpire.
Kyrgios and his mum, Noralia, both commented on the officiating of the match on social media later on.
Alcott, who has won four Australian Opens, one Wimbledon and claimed a paralympic gold medal in Rio in 2016, says the Kyrgios fans see on court couldn't be more at odds with the man he is in private.
"I like Nick, we get on really well - and I mean this, I say this every time I get asked - behind closed doors, he's an unbelievable guy," Alcott said on Sport Sunday on Channel Nine.
"For example, at the tennis centre, if there are little kids hitting, he'll go on the courts and hit with them - for no reason at all.
"Obviously he's got loose lips. It was pretty interesting to see him go at the umpire saying no one likes him and no one wants him on his court.
"Obviously he's gotta knuckle down and play. Unbelievably though, he went on to win that match - he won the next set 6-3.
"He even openly said he was going to tank it a bit. It's almost a bit of a tactic - if you're down halfway through a set, you kinda just say 'stuff it, I'm out of this one, I'll save my energy for the third.'
"It's not the right way to go about it, but he puts eyes on the tennis court."
There are plenty of stories about Kyrgios taking time out of training to have a hit with youngsters or giving back to charity.
In March, he stopped his practise session at the Miami Open to have an impromptu hit with kids from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School - the site of a deadly shooting earlier in the year.
He challenged some of the students to win a point off him and rewarded two girls with compression sleeves after they did just that.
Alcott also said Kyrgios has the most pure tennis talent of anyone on the planet.
"On talent alone, for the people that I've hit next to, he's probably the most talented player in the world," Alcott said.
"Easily. Better than Federer. It's unbelievable how good he is."