#SNS: A Comprehensive Look at Nick Kyrgios & Swagger Tennis

swag·ger

  “swaɡər/“

noun
1. a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner.

Like him or not, Australian young gun Nick Kygios definitely has it. Swagger, that it factor that makes him such a polarizing player to watch and discuss.

Much has been made of the current Golden Era, the Federers and Nadals of the world have created a pillar of exemplary humility and public behavior. Djokovic and Murray, once known for their respective teenage swagger and dry wit, have learned to manage themselves like their fellow Grand Slam competitors.

The “Lost Generation” of rising ATP players – Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic — all follow this example as well, preferring to let their on court results do the talking.

Leading the way of a younger, more brash wave of teenaged talent, however, is Kyrgios, whose talent and results on the sport’s biggest stages appears to justify the bravado he evokes both on and off-court.

From a punishing serve to a bullying down-the-line backhand to delicate feel at the net, the 19-year-old Canberra native possesses a wide variety of exceptional shots in his arsenal of weapons that have contributed to his run this week to the Estoril final.

Yet today’s #SaturdayNightShots, will be covering a different aspect of the flashy Australian’s game.

His swag game.

8. Formal Event Swag

At last year’s Newcombe Medal Awards, Kygrios walked away with the top recognition as Australia’s most outstanding elite player of the season.

He walked in wearing a purple suit.

Whether or not this is a fashion hit or miss, a shiny purple suit at a formal awards ceremony is textbook swagger.

7. Trick Shot Swag

The general consensus on ‘tweeners and other trick shots is divided; more often than not there are safer shot choices that help stay in the point. Fittingly, Kyrgios is hardly one to shy away from the polarizing shots. In a major round of sixteen. Against Rafael Nadal.

#swag

6. Brother Swag

Kyrgios’ brother, Christos, is perhaps the biggest proof that swagger might indeed be genetic. After criticisms of players’ fiery on-court temperament surfaced in the media, his brother took to Facebook to send out a few choice words for ‘the haters.’

Love it or hate it, the Kyrgios family has each others’ backs, and likely catch up over a breakfast of scrambled swagger every morning at home.

5. WTA Swag

Kyrgios’ flirting game has been well-documented, largely in cooperation with one of the boldest players on the WTA: Victoria “I dated RedFoo for a long period of time” Azarenka.

Known for her own fiery on-court persona and casual off-court attitude, the Belorussian’s Twitter exchanges with the Aussie caused quite a bit of buzz on social media this January. When asked to comment on the flirtations, Kyrgios kept it classy and had “no comment,” balancing his swag with a “no-kiss-n’-tell” policy in this hypothetical and purely fictitious inter-Tour relationship.

“@NickKyrgios: “How can I learn to serve as big as u @NickKyrgios ??? #NKAO2015” Private lessons of course!! 🙈” okay I’ll book one 🙊😂

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 24, 2015

4. Hometown Hero Swag

While Australia’s last Grand Slam champion, Sam Stosur, tends to crack under the pressure of playing at home, Kyrgios embraces it. While he was forced to miss most of the Aussie Summer due to injury, he made an unlikely run to the quarterfinals of Melbourne, on the back of some impressive and gutsy wins.

3. Haircut Swag

He walks on court with hair like this. I mean, you have to have swagger if you’re going to play tennis with a work of art on the side of your scalp.

2. Wimbledon Swag

Kyrgios announced himself to the world at last year’s Wimbledon Championships, with two incredible wins on SW19’s hallowed grounds.

In stark contrast with the notions of quiet and class that Wimbledon calls to mind, Kyrgios and his explosive swagger saved nine match points in his second round against Richard Gasquet and followed that up with a landmark win over Nadal two rounds later.

Not a bad coming-out party.

1. Childhood Swag

This picture exists. Enough said.

What do you think of Kyrgios’ swagger? Sound off in the comments!