Nick Kyrgios Explains How His Kobe Bryant Tattoo Keeps Him Inspired on Tennis Court

Published 02/04/2021, 12:00 AM EST

Nick Kyrgios has forever been a Los Angeles Lakers fan. But his true fandom came to the notice when the world lost Kobe Bryant to a tragic accident and Nick emerged from the Rod Laver Arena tunnel wearing Kobe’s #8 jersey.

That was him during the 4th Round Aus Open loss to Rafael Nadal, and since then, he has changed a lot. The bad boy of Tennis is currently playing the Murray River Open as a warmup before the AO 2021. His most recent victory came in the Round of 32 when he bested Harry Bourchier in straight sets.

Nick Kyrgios revealed something about his changed self

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There has never been a question about what the 25-YO sensation brings to the fold. He has the potential to beat the Big Three and win a grand slam only if he can channelize his emotions and bring forth the best in him.

However, in the past few years, he has been everything but calm. However, in the wake of the pandemic, he seems to have found a way to calm the storm that rages within.

In a post-game interview, the right-handed player gave credit to the late Kobe Bryant for this change in his psyche. He exclaimed, “I have a tattoo (Kobe’s) over my arm.

“So, when I look down obviously it brings me back, memories of how he would have competed, how he would have been remembered.

“But, it’s made me, I definitely feel when I’m on court I feel like I’ve been around the tour for a while now, I feel I’m not gonna get as angry as I used to, I just feel as if I know what style of Tennis I need to be playing to win matches.”

If it is the Mamba Mentality that Nick Kyrgios was addressing, he is surely on the right path. He could not make it into the ATP Cup roster for Australia, but the Murray River Open is still an opportunity to show character.

That moment when he almost lost his cool

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The Aussie star is playing in a tournament after almost a year, and the grit that he has displayed has been commendable. At one point in the second set, the score was tied 6-6 in the tie-break. That’s when Bourchier enjoyed a moment of luck when his shot hit the tape and turned into an unplayable winner.

That awarded Bourchier a set-point, but it was Nick’s composure that got him the W. He further added, “Obviously, I’m frustrated, but I could’ve got angry today when he got the net tape to bring up the set point. I just stayed composed, and that’s the way it is.”

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The 13th seed will next play the 4th seed Borna Coric in the Round of 16. Whom do you think will post a win? Help us know in the comments.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Family Plan Out a Funny Banter Against Nick Kyrgios

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.

Nick Kyrgios Explains How His Kobe Bryant Tattoo Keeps Him Inspired on Tennis Court

Nick Kyrgios revealed something about his changed self

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That moment when he almost lost his cool