Meet Nick Kyrgios, the 24-year-old bad boy of tennis whose talent and antics make him the most frustrating and compelling players in the sport

Nick Kyrgios is one of the most enigmatic figures in tennis.

The 24-year-old Australian has been praised as one of the up-and-coming stars of the game, one of the most talented players in the world, and perhaps a future great.

But for all of Kyrgios' talent, he also has some downfalls. Kyrgios is moody on the court and prone to temper tantrums, some so extreme that he's been kicked out of matches. His mood swings have seen him blatantly tank games, call out umpires, fans, and opponents.

Kyrgios has admitted he doesn't love tennis and doesn't work as hard as his peers. Yet he is also ranked 36th in the world and has an impressive record against tennis' Big Four a sign that he could dominate if he wanted to.

Read below to learn more about tennis' bad boy, and its most compelling star.

Nick Kyrgios is one of the most complicated and controversial stars in all of tennis. He may be more physically gifted than any other player, with a rare combination of power, speed, and finesse.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Ben Curtis/AP

However, Kyrgios personality often gets in the way of his talent. Hes as known for his meltdowns on the court and occasional brash behavior as he is for his skill.

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Jason DeCrow/AP

For much of his career, Kyrgios has waffled between moments of individual brilliance and befuddling breakdowns.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Andy Brownbill/AP

His meltdowns at matches have become common occurrences, whether its smashing racquets...

... Or trash-talking fans, opponents, or chair umpires.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Seth Wenig/AP

Growing up in Australia, Kyrgios had a natural skill for the game. At 14 years old, he chose tennis over basketball (more on that later) because he had a better chance at making it professionally in tennis.

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Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Kyrgios said he was overweight growing up because he ate too much. As a result, he learned how to hit deft shots and guess where his opponents shots would land so he could win matches without expending energy.

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Karleen Minney/Fairfax Media/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

Source: New York Times

Kyrgios joined a national tennis training center at 15 years old and moved away from home. A local coach who watched Kyrgios said of his skill, "His arm was so fast, it was like he was playing with a toothpick."

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Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Sources: New York Times , The New Yorker

Kyrgios rise through the ranks was quick. He won his first amateur grand slam at 17 years old at the Australian Open, winning the tournament without dropping a set.

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Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Over the next two years, Kyrgios gradually climbed up the world rankings. His breakout moment arguably came at Wimbledon in 2014, when he beat Rafa Nadal, then the world No. 1, in four sets to reach the quarter-finals.

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Ben Curtis/AP

Wimbledon 2015 was another breakout moment for Kyrgios, for reasons both good and bad. Kyrgios played well beating eighth-ranked Milos Raonic in the Round of 32 to reach the Round of 16.

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

However, while facing Richard Guasquet with the quarter-finals on the line, Kyrgios melted down.

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via ESPN/ATP

Kyrgios was served with a code violation for cursing. After he lost the game, he then tanked his way through the next game, blatantly not trying to return Gasquet's serves.

He also got in trouble for changing his socks too slowly.

He eventually lost the match.

Read mo re: 20-year-old tennis player loses his mind at Wimbledon, stops trying for an entire game because he's mad at the umpire

Kyrgios got in trouble again in 2015 at the Montreal Masters when he told his opponent, Stan Wawrinka, that fellow tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with Wawrinkas girlfriend.

After the match, Kyrgios explained it by saying: "[Wawrinka] was getting a lippy with me ... I just said it."

Wawrinka expressed his outrage via Twitter, and Kyrgios was later fined $25,000 and suspended for 28 days.

He climbed the rankings in 2016, getting as high as 14th in the world. He then tanked another match at the Shangai Masters, even asking the umpire to call the match so he could go home.

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via ATP

At the 2019 Mexican Open, Kyrgios took part in a wild match against Rafa Nadal.

Kyrgios wanted to forfeit because he felt sick but told trainers that the media would rip him for it.

As the match went on, in front of a pro-Nadal crowd, Kyrgios told the fans to "shut the f--- up."

Kyrgios eventually battled back to win the match. Upon winning, he exchanged an icy handshake with Nadal, then taunted the crowd. Nadal later criticized Kyrgios for his lack of respect.

Most recently, he was kicked out of the Italian Open after he cursed and threw a chair onto the court.

These moments frustrate the tennis world because Kyrgios is also capable of greatness. Hes one of the most impressive shot-makers on tour.

He has a thing for tweeners...

And no-look shots (even if they dont always work)...

He has unreal touch...

Hes one of the most best servers on tour. Hes fifth in serve rating and third in aces per match.

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Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Source: ATP

Kyrgios has also been known to bust out a tricky underhand serve, which some in the tennis world view as cheap. Kyrgios said too many players are too afraid to try something new on the court.

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios has long been viewed as the-next-big-thing in tennis.

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Albert Perez/Getty Images

Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst and former Andre Agassi coach, told the New Yorker in 2017: "I think he has the most talent of anyone twenty-five and under. If you put the total package around him, and he embraced that, I would be shocked if he didn't win multiple slams and become top two in the world."

Source: The New Yorker

There seem to be several issues plaguing Kyrgios, however. He doesnt have a coach, having moved on from several coaches and admitting he doesnt take well to coaching.

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Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

Kyrgios has lacked motivation and maturity, at times.

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Aaron Favila/aP

He has admitted to getting home-sick on the tour, saying he misses his family, friends, and dogs.

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via Instagram/Nick Kyrgios

One issue that has plagued Kyrgios he likes basketball more than tennis. He has said so himself!

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via Instagram/Nick Kyrgios

"I don't really like the sport of tennis that much. I don't love it ... But I just love basketball, I love the sport. I always have. I try when I'm on the road with tennis not to watch too many basketball videos and stuff like that, to keep me focused, but it's tough."

Source: Independent

Unlike many other top athletes, he isnt motivated by others success. He said in 2017 that watching then-20-year-old Alexander Zverev win a tournament didnt motivate him.

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Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

"I'm incredibly happy for him,"Kyrgios said. "But I don't know if it motivates me. I didn't feel, as soon as he won, Man, I'm going to go train, or anything. He won a tournament. It's good, but it's more weeks on the road where we're going to play tennis matches, and that's it."

Source: The New Yorker

Andy Murray has become a mentor to Kyrgios. But Kyrgios turned down a training trip with Murray because he feared the amount of work they would do. "That was a quick no for me, because I know hes going to be training four, five hours a day. We were probably going to have to be doing these protein shakes."

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via Instagram/Nick Kyrgios

Source: The New Yorker

Kyrgios said he looks up to French tennis player Gael Monfils. Monfils has had a successful career, but, to some, has not lived up to his potential. There are parallels between the two players.

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Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Source: The New Yorker

Kyrgios said he thinks consistency is a great skill ... but hes not sure hell ever have it. "If I had that, Jesus, Id probably have a couple grand slams already," he said.

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Koji Sasahara/AP

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios has even questioned his own work ethic, telling Ben Rothenberg: "Its so hard to find people that just wanna like hang out on a daily basis and just be so chilled and not take it so seriously. Everyone is so professional. And like, compared to me, for sure I do the least amount of work out of the top 100."

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Kin Cheung/AP

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios said he was out partying for the entirety of the 2019 Mexican Open and still won the tournament.

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Hector Vivas/Getty Images

"I went out every night," Kyrgios said, adding he was going to sleep around 4 a.m.

"I was playing, and I was packing my going-out clothes in my tennis bag ... It was insane. I was jet-skiing and partying and I won a tournament. I'm just like, 'How?'"

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios said hes not sure how long hell be able to play tennis for because he plays a lot of basketball and doesnt take great care of his body.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Aaron Favila/AP

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios is nothing if not brutally honest. That includes his opinions of other players on tour. For instance, Kyrgios trashed Fernando Verdasco as "the most arrogant person ever."

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Marc DesRosiers/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Getty Images

"He doesn't say hello, he thinks he's so good, he thinks he's God's gift. Dude, your backhand's pretty average and let's be honest, you hit a ball over a net."

Source: No Challenges Remaining

He also called Novak Djokovic "cringeworthy" and said Djokovic tries too hard to be liked by everybody.

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Clive Mason/Getty

Kyrgios did praise Djokovic's play, however.

Source: No Challenges Remaining

He also called out Rafa Nadal, calling Nadal "salty" and the polar opposite of himself.

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Kin Cheung/AP

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios also called out Angelique Kerber in 2019 for what he thought was two-faced behavior.

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Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images

After Kerber lost to Bianca Andreescu at the Miami Open, Kerber called Andreescu a "drama queen." Later on, she praised Andreescu on Twitter for winning the match, and Kyrgios tweeted , "Bruh you said she is a drama queen and then post this."

Kyrgios said he doesnt understand why he has to respect his opponents. He said: "I dont understand why I have to respect them, like, automatically. All they do is literally hit a ball over the net."

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Al Bello/Getty Images

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios has admitted hes a "troll" online.

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Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Source: No Challenges Remaining

Kyrgios agent, John Morris, who Kyrgios has called a friend, has said that the 24-year-old is a mystery, even to him.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Marijan Murat/Getty Images

Source: The New Yorker

Some think that Kyrgios antics, lackadaisical attitude, and luke-warm attitude toward tennis is a cover for how he truly feels. Some think he desires to be great, but has trouble channeling it and is afraid to fail if he gives his best effort.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Al Bello/Getty Images

Source: The New York Times

Kyrgios said hes lucky to be able to simply "turn the tap on" when he needs to play his best tennis and believes hell be able to do so for the next few years. The tennis world will be watching to see if Kyrgios ever changes, takes the game more seriously, and realizes his immense potential.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Ben Curtis/AP

Now, check out who fans love to root against the most...

BusinessInsider USA Images

Getty Images

Meet Nick Kyrgios, the 24-year-old bad boy of tennis whose talent and antics make him the most frustrating and compelling players in the sport

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Nick Kyrgios is one of the most complicated and controversial stars in all of tennis. He may be more physically gifted than any other player, with a rare combination of power, speed, and finesse.

However, Kyrgios personality often gets in the way of his talent. Hes as known for his meltdowns on the court and occasional brash behavior as he is for his skill.

For much of his career, Kyrgios has waffled between moments of individual brilliance and befuddling breakdowns.

His meltdowns at matches have become common occurrences, whether its smashing racquets...

... Or trash-talking fans, opponents, or chair umpires.

Growing up in Australia, Kyrgios had a natural skill for the game. At 14 years old, he chose tennis over basketball (more on that later) because he had a better chance at making it professionally in tennis.

Kyrgios said he was overweight growing up because he ate too much. As a result, he learned how to hit deft shots and guess where his opponents shots would land so he could win matches without expending energy.

Kyrgios joined a national tennis training center at 15 years old and moved away from home. A local coach who watched Kyrgios said of his skill, "His arm was so fast, it was like he was playing with a toothpick."

Kyrgios rise through the ranks was quick. He won his first amateur grand slam at 17 years old at the Australian Open, winning the tournament without dropping a set.

Over the next two years, Kyrgios gradually climbed up the world rankings. His breakout moment arguably came at Wimbledon in 2014, when he beat Rafa Nadal, then the world No. 1, in four sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Wimbledon 2015 was another breakout moment for Kyrgios, for reasons both good and bad. Kyrgios played well beating eighth-ranked Milos Raonic in the Round of 32 to reach the Round of 16.

However, while facing Richard Guasquet with the quarter-finals on the line, Kyrgios melted down.

Kyrgios got in trouble again in 2015 at the Montreal Masters when he told his opponent, Stan Wawrinka, that fellow tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with Wawrinkas girlfriend.

He climbed the rankings in 2016, getting as high as 14th in the world. He then tanked another match at the Shangai Masters, even asking the umpire to call the match so he could go home.

At the 2019 Mexican Open, Kyrgios took part in a wild match against Rafa Nadal.

Most recently, he was kicked out of the Italian Open after he cursed and threw a chair onto the court.

These moments frustrate the tennis world because Kyrgios is also capable of greatness. Hes one of the most impressive shot-makers on tour.

He has a thing for tweeners...

And no-look shots (even if they dont always work)...

He has unreal touch...

Hes one of the most best servers on tour. Hes fifth in serve rating and third in aces per match.

Kyrgios has also been known to bust out a tricky underhand serve, which some in the tennis world view as cheap. Kyrgios said too many players are too afraid to try something new on the court.

Kyrgios has long been viewed as the-next-big-thing in tennis.

There seem to be several issues plaguing Kyrgios, however. He doesnt have a coach, having moved on from several coaches and admitting he doesnt take well to coaching.

Kyrgios has lacked motivation and maturity, at times.

He has admitted to getting home-sick on the tour, saying he misses his family, friends, and dogs.

One issue that has plagued Kyrgios he likes basketball more than tennis. He has said so himself!

Unlike many other top athletes, he isnt motivated by others success. He said in 2017 that watching then-20-year-old Alexander Zverev win a tournament didnt motivate him.

Kyrgios said he looks up to French tennis player Gael Monfils. Monfils has had a successful career, but, to some, has not lived up to his potential. There are parallels between the two players.

Kyrgios said he thinks consistency is a great skill ... but hes not sure hell ever have it. "If I had that, Jesus, Id probably have a couple grand slams already," he said.

Kyrgios said he was out partying for the entirety of the 2019 Mexican Open and still won the tournament.

Kyrgios said hes not sure how long hell be able to play tennis for because he plays a lot of basketball and doesnt take great care of his body.

Kyrgios is nothing if not brutally honest. That includes his opinions of other players on tour. For instance, Kyrgios trashed Fernando Verdasco as "the most arrogant person ever."

He also called Novak Djokovic "cringeworthy" and said Djokovic tries too hard to be liked by everybody.

He also called out Rafa Nadal, calling Nadal "salty" and the polar opposite of himself.

Kyrgios also called out Angelique Kerber in 2019 for what he thought was two-faced behavior.

Kyrgios said he doesnt understand why he has to respect his opponents. He said: "I dont understand why I have to respect them, like, automatically. All they do is literally hit a ball over the net."

Kyrgios has admitted hes a "troll" online.

Kyrgios agent, John Morris, who Kyrgios has called a friend, has said that the 24-year-old is a mystery, even to him.

Some think that Kyrgios antics, lackadaisical attitude, and luke-warm attitude toward tennis is a cover for how he truly feels. Some think he desires to be great, but has trouble channeling it and is afraid to fail if he gives his best effort.

Kyrgios said hes lucky to be able to simply "turn the tap on" when he needs to play his best tennis and believes hell be able to do so for the next few years. The tennis world will be watching to see if Kyrgios ever changes, takes the game more seriously, and realizes his immense potential.

Now, check out who fans love to root against the most...

The 15 greatest villains in sports >

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