HAS THE PENNY FINALLY DROPPED FOR NICK?

Everything is currently pointing to yes as he continues his barnstorming 2022 season.

The prodigeous and frustrating talent has often teased with what could be, but the scoreboard is painting a picture of a man who might just have clicked.

Kyrgios has just downed world No.1 Daniil Medvedev today to reach the third round of the ATP 1000 National Bank Open in Montreal, setting up an all-aussie clash with Alex de Minaur, a month after they should have met at Wimbledon.

Nick’s record for the year sits at 32-8, or 80% for the season (Up from 47% last year, 66% the year before, 67 in 2019 and 66 in 2018). he has 14 wins from his last 15, 19 from his last 22 and besides Andy Murray (a 3-time Grand Slam champion), Kyrgios hasn’t lost to a player ranked outside the top 20 since August last year.

His last five defeats have also come with at least one tie-break set, including the Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic.

Only Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz have a higher winning percentage in the 2022 calendar year.

Kyrgios has the highest percentage of service holds of any man on tour this year, and the second highest first serve percentage for the year behind the serving machine John Isner.

If you narrow those stats down to only clashes with players in the top 10, Kyrgios sits number 1 for service holds, first serve percentage, avoiding double faults, second serve aces and first serve speeds.

This year he has beaten Tsitsipas twice, Medvedev, Rublev and Ruud with tight losses to Djokovic at Wimbledon and Nadal 6-7, 7-5, 4-6 at Indian Wells.

He also lost a pair of tie-breaks to Hurkacz in the Halle semi-final this year.

Kyrgios hadn’t beaten a top 10 player since the ATP Cup of 2020, but has now beaten 5 this year.

Last week the Australian won the 7th ATP singles title of his career and his first since 2019 when he defeated Nishioka to win the Washington crown.

He would win the doubles title just hours later, and it is perhaps his success in doubles at the Australian Open that could be the catalyst for this year’s run of results.

Partnering with close friend Thanassi Kokkinakis to win that grand slam title was what Nick described as the greatest moment of his career at the time.

The pair would win in Atlanta last month before Kyrgios combined with America’s Jack Sock to claim the Washington title.

Aussie tennis great Rennae Stubbs took to twitter to praise Nick’s form this morning.

“I mean when he plays tennis and keeps his s**t together, he is seriously close to the best tennis player in the world.” she said.

Whilst Andy Roddick declared Kyrgios the US Open favourite.

Nick himself is speaking with the maturity of someone who might just have realised how good he can be, and just what might be in front of him if he wants it.

“It’s rewarding to beat the world No. 1,” he said. “It’s a reflection of all the hard work I’ve done in Sydney.

“After Washington I could easily come here and be content with what I did last week, but I wanted to empty the tank these two weeks.

“Obviously my ranking’s not where I want it to be, not getting those points at Wimbledon, but I’ve got to capitalise on this little window.”

As it stands right now, Kyrgios is playing the most consistent and reliable tennis of his career and would be in the best handful of players in the world on form.

Let’s hope it’s not just a little window.