Upcoming Match-ups

Nick Kyrgios Given +225 Odds to Smash at Least One Racket at US Open

Dave Friedman

by Dave Friedman in Tennis

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 2:31 PM PDT

Nick Kyrgios
Aussie Nick Kyrgios sometimes lets his temper get the best of him Photo by JC (wikimedia commons).
  • The US Open begins on August 26
  • High strung Aussie Nick Kyrgios is currently ranked 29th in the world
  • Will Kyrgios smash a racket during the season’s final major?

When Nick Kyrgios reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2014 at the age of 19 he had a temper but was young and up and coming. Five years later, with just one other major quarter to his credit, he has become as much a sideshow as a threat to win most meaningful tournaments.

Kyrgios faced a racket emergency earlier this month because he had a tantrum in Washington. It was a good thing he got a fresh batch, because last week in Cincinnati he became destructive again.

The United States Open gets going in New York next week. While Kyrgios is a longshot to play meaningful tennis, how he treats his equipment is very much up in the air.

Total Rackets Smashed by Nick Kyrgios at 2019 US Open

Total Odds
Over 0.5 +225
Under 0.5 -350

Odds taken 08/19/19.

What Have You Done for Me Lately

Kyrgios is unhinged. He has had a meltdown at each of the last two tournaments he has been around at for more than a single match. Interestingly, Novak Djokovic has had his moments too. However, Djokovic has won 16 majors. His passion at times fuels him. Kyrgios does not appear to be helping himself when he loses it.

YouTube video

Because Kyrgios has won precisely one major match this year, the opportunity for a blow-up isn’t as strong as a contender likely to be around for a while. However, he has won two matches in two of the last three years in New York. It only takes a split second for the outburst to occur too.

YouTube video

It is also worth nothing Kyrgios isn’t playing awful right now. In Cincinnati, he lost his second match, but it was a competitive three-setter against a decent player, Karen Khachanov. He won the DC event beating Giles Simon, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Daniil Medvedev in the process. Even at Wimbledon he took Rafael Nadal to four sets and lost two tiebreakers.

At -350 there is an implied probability of 78% that Kyrgios isn’t going to smash a racket. We’d prefer to take the other side. Sure +225 isn’t an unreal price, but lately, Kyrgios has let his temper get the better of him, and because he is eventually going to lose in New York, his chances for frustration and the antics that come with it are somewhat likely.

Author Image