Nick Kyrgios may have his best chance to win a Grand Slam title at Wimbledon 2018, but former title-holder Marion Bartoli believes the polarising Australian is nowhere near champion status and may never be.
The Frenchwoman ripped into Australia's highest-ranked male after a minor argument with an umpire during his dominant 6-3 6-4 7-5 second round win over Robin Haase, labelling him as a waste of talent.
“I don’t think so,'' Bartoli said when asked if Kyrgios could take a Slam.
“Just because his work ethic is just not good enough to win a Grand Slam.
“And even when Rafa and Roger will eventually retire, the field is just too strong. And all of the other players just put so much hard work (in) to be there.
“Even if he has all the talent in the world – and I’m definitely not questioning that – I don’t think he will be able to put seven matches in a row.”
Bartoli put Kygrios in the same category as underperforming Frenchman Gael Monfils who never lived up to the hype.
“Absolutely (I put him in the same category). And that’s why Gael has never won a grand slam as well and it’s a true shame because those kids have just so much potential,” she said.
“It’s really, in a way pathetic, to see them just being (childish). It just seems like they can’t grow up. They can’t become men they just can’t take charge of their own lives.
“I wish Gael had done it before and I truly hope Nick will be able to get it together at some point. I don’t know what he needs … maybe a wake up call to see he’s going to waste his life if he keeps on acting like that.”
Never one to stay quiet, Kyrgios couldn't help but laugh at the criticism as he prepares to face former world number four Kei Nishikori in the third round.
Hahahahaha 😂 good perspective 👍🏽 https://t.co/uMP7TUcqZ5
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 5, 2018
Confident as ever, the 15th ranked Aussie is aware of the challenging road ahead as he lay praise on his opposition.
“Murray not playing helps,” he said
“I mean, Federer is unbelievable. The other three guys are, I think, still playing really good. Novak is looking really confident. Rafa beat a tough guy today on grass, Kukushkin, (who) is not easy to beat.
“To beat him in straight sets is really solid. Federer is just dicing people up. I don’t know if we can do much. We can just take care of business every day until we meet them.
“Hopefully we can play our best tennis. If that’s not good enough, it’s not good enough. Can’t really do much.”
