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Laver: Where Kyrgios is ahead of Federer and Nadal

Aussie tennis legend Rod Laver has made the staggering claim that Nick Kyrgios is ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in one very important part of the game.

Kyrgios will battle Federer and Nadal at this weekend's Laver Cup in Prague, a team event named after the Australian champion that sees the best from Europe take on the best from the rest of the world.

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Laver, an 11-time grand slam champion, says Kyrgios still has a lot of work to do on his mental approach to the game, but is the most talented player going around.

"Nick has got more talent than anybody on the tour, but sometimes his attitude just does damage to his life as a player," Laver told The Independent.

John Isner, Kyrgios, John McEnroe, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Nadal and Federer. Image: Getty
John Isner, Kyrgios, John McEnroe, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Nadal and Federer. Image: Getty

"Look at this summer. One moment he's beating Nadal in Cincinnati and then with one click the brain goes out and he doesn’t care.

"That's a shame because Nick has an unbelievable game. However, I think that will change with maturity."

Kyrgios has twice beaten Novak Djokovic in 2017, as well as beating Nadal.

He also pushed Roger Federer all the way in Miami in what some say is the greatest non-grand slam match ever played.

However after a shock loss to fellow Aussie John Millman in the first round of the US Open, Kyrgios admitted he doesn't always take his tennis seriously.

"You have to be a little smarter in what you’re doing with your own body," Laver acknowledged.

“He’s got a huge serve, but if something happens to his shoulder he might not feel as comfortable any more."

Team Europe, featuring the world's top two players, are overwhelming favourites to win the three-day tournament, with a squad boasting a combined 36 grand slam titles against one for Team World.

Team Europe also includes German Alexander Zverev, Croatia's Marin Cilic, Austrian Dominic Thiem and Czech Tomas Berdych, while Team World features Americans Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, John Isner and Frances Tiafoe plus Australia's Nick Krygios and Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

The teams are captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, whose own rivalry starting in the 1970s featured a contrast in temperament and style that made their matches the kind of must-watch events that Laver Cup organisers hope to showcase.