If Nick Kyrgios worked in an office, he would be every HR department’s nightmare. Ordinarily you can’t get away with smashing chairs or yelling abuse at your manager, colleagues or clients; for tennis players that’s umpires, players and crowds. To an umpire he sarcastically once said, “You have one job. Just one.” which, to be fair, is probably what every employee has thought about their boss at some stage, but most wouldn’t yell it out in the office, let alone in front of a stadium full of people. Maybe he didn’t feel he had as many opportunities this year for yelling, As he told the assembled press at the Australian Open this year on 10th January, before his first big match,”I think the sport was getting a bit mundane.”
Typically, HR Departments insist on their employees signing off on their “social media policy” for brand and reputation protection. Kyrgios would have had the HR Team wrangling his phone out of his hands following the five month trolling of his “colleague”, Jannik Sinner.
Where HR really brace themselves is at the Office Christmas Party, where things can go seriously wrong. While there’s always someone in the team who doesn’t like co-workers getting too friendly Graham, leaving HR to wonder if it should be reported as a formal grievance, or just handled with a passive-aggressive email, Kyrgios is informing Stan Warwinka in front of a global TV audience that “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend.”
Tennis, like any workplace, thrives on respect and teamwork, and while Kyrgios has been undeniably entertaining, it’s time to let others take centre stage, and let the sport shine on without him. As former world number 1 Pat Rafter stated ahead of this year’s Australian Open, “The Aussie Open is bigger than any player right now. Top players will always come along.”
Let’s take a look at some of the Australian players already stepping into the spotlight.
Alex de Minaur
Starting with Australia’s highest ranked player at 8, De Minaur or “The Demon” is fast, fit, and fiercely competitive. He’s ranked just one spot below what many tout as the GOAT, Novak Djokovic and is hopeful of becoming the first Australian male to win the Aussie Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
Emerson Jones
World No. 1 junior and one of the most competitive and focussed young players out there, she is eyeing off the Australian Open Junior title to start the year. Her parents are from sporting royalty, with her mother Loretta Harrop bagging an Olympic silver in triathlon, and dad Brad Jones a former Aussie Rules footballer so Emerson certainly has the genes for greatness.
Alexei Popyrin
Or “Pop” to his fans. Popyrin was the first Australian in 18 years to beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam. He’s also the first Aussie male to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003. A man of firsts and breaking an Aussie drought, he might just be the one to win a Grand Slam this year.
Destanee Aiava
The first female tennis player of Samoan heritage to reach the US Open main draw, Aiava brings both power and style to the court. Her run through qualifying and into the second round of the main draw following many years of mental health struggles has been truly inspirational. She creatively pays tribute to tennis legends with vintage outfits, adding a classy touch to the sport.
Kim Birrell
Reaching the Brisbane quarter-finals after defeating Emma Navarro (ranked 8 in the world), Birrell could move into the top 50 and take over as the Number 1 Australian female. Although she missed out on a wildcard into the Australian Open, she selflessly stated that she was happy for the younger girls to get the opportunity ahead of her.
Cruz Hewitt
Lleyton Hewitt’s 16-year-old son is part of Australia’s “Dream Teens,” along with Emerson Jones. Cruz has inherited his dad’s fiery spirit and with the best of Australia’s former world number 1’s ready to mentor him – he’s destined for greatness.
Daria Saville
Juggling injury comebacks, family planning, and freezing eggs, Saville is an inspiration to any woman making the difficult decision to extend their career before embarking on motherhood. She has the game and the fight to match it with the best in the world.
Aleksandar Vukic
After an incredible run at the Australian Open, losing in the third round by just 2 points to 15 seeded Jack Draper, Vukic has cemented himself as the one to watch this year. His ability to hit for the lines and follow it into the net makes him quite a threat to the guys who like to trade shots from the baseline.
Maya Joint
Soaring from world No. 684 to 118 in 2024, Maya Joint’s rise has been meteoric. At only 18 years of age, she’s a future star in the making.
While we thank Kyrgios for the tweeners and the entertainment, it’s time to turn the spotlight to the next generation of players who inspire with their talent, discipline, and respect. These rising stars are ready to write the next chapter of Australian tennis and we’re here for it, even if part of us will secretly miss the antics.
As Kyrgios said on 13th January this year, after being knocked out, “No regrets. I’ve had an amazing – my journey is not over, but I’ve had an amazing journey. My career’s been amazing. I don’t have any regrets.”
