'I don't want to be remembered as a good tennis player'
Nick Kyrgios has opened up to 7News about his true motivation in life, and it goes much deeper than his work on the tennis court.
In an exclusive interview, Kyrgios was candid about another baffling year of highs and lows, expressing his belief that big things are coming at January's Australian Open.
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Kyrgios can be misunderstood, but there's one man the Aussie firebrand can relate to - seven-time grand slam champion John McEnroe.
Kyrgios and McEnroe teamed up for the inaugural Laver Cup earlier this year, and the young Aussie was left seeing stark similarities between himself and the former wild child of tennis.
"I told him 'you don't have the personality at all for tennis so why did you play?'" Kyrgios revealed.
"He said 'pretty much the same reason (as you), we don't know what else to do and it's the only thing we're good at'.
"I could definitely see some similarities there."
Despite his trick shots and on-court theatrics, Kyrgios has revealed how he wants his legacy to be his work with the Nick Kyrgios Foundation for under-privileged children.
"I don't really want to be remembered as a good tennis player," he said.
"I want to be remembered as someone who helped people."
Kyrgios has previously said the prospect of helping disadvantaged and underprivileged children has enabled him to find a "purpose" to play tennis at the highest level.
The controversial star has made no secret of the fact that he has struggled to motivate himself to realise his undoubted potential.
The 22-year-old has revealed that setting up the Nick Kyrgios Foundation, with the aim of providing sport facilities to needy youths, has given him a huge incentive to succeed.
He wrote on the Players Voice website in September: "You hear people talk about being motivated for their kids, or a cause, or something more than just themselves. It's inspiration, pure and simple, and it gives them focus when times are tough.
"There's a reason underpinning everything. It's a higher purpose than just collecting a pay cheque.
"I haven't had that and I've always been envious of those who did. I think I've found my purpose in the last couple of months. I'm building something.
"A couple of years ago I had a vision: to build a facility for disadvantaged and underprivileged kids where they could hang out, be safe and feel like they were part of a family.
"There'd be tennis courts and basketball courts and a gym and an oval to kick the footy. There'd be things to eat and beds to sleep in."
with agencies
