"I've appreciated the kid." Seb Grosjean on why he's said yes to coaching Nick Kyrgios, quoted by Vincent Cognet https://abonnes.lequipe.fr/Tennis/Article/Sebastien-grosjean-j-apprecie-ce-gamin/801670 . This is from the print edition.

There have been murmurs for several weeks that you would be coaching Nick Kyrgios ...

-- I'm officially starting here. But in fact, I'm continuing to help Nick as I've been doing since February in Boca Raton, Florida. When he got back from Australia in February, we started to spend some days together. And we kept doing it. The truth is, I don't want to spend twenty-five weeks a year at his side. Nick needs a certain freedom. You have to be there when necessary, but let him express himself. He doesn't need someone full-time.

How did the first contact happen?

-- Richard [Gasquet] and I, he always appreciated us. When we saw each other at Wimbledon, for example, we always exchanged friendly words. He knew I lived in Boca. I know his agent, John Morris, fairly well. It was natural. Nick asked me which tournaments I'd be at. I told him I'd be in Rome, since I'm commentating for beIN Sports, then Roland Garros and Wimbledon. In fact, I'll be with him for the last three Slams of the year.

So, for around a dozen weeks?

-- That's not how I'm thinking. I'll be with him in Florida, and at tournaments I've intended to attend. But my role is more important for prep periods.

You've already noticed progress since you've started helping him?

-- He's been much more consistent for the last two months. I'm talking about his game level and his behaviour.

Why did you accept the challenge?

-- Because I'm in Boca with him. I would never have accepted if he'd just asked me to follow him to tournaments. I believe in the virtues of training. That's where you can add certain things, whether it's technical or tactical, amount of physical training etc. Nick is into the top 20. From now on, the details will make the difference. It's a passionate challenge because he's at the age [22] where he's still developing his game. He's still forming. He has a nice margin of progression. And there aren't thirty-six thousand like him in the new generation ...

You have a good feeling about him?

-- I appreciate the kid. He and Richard played two matches in a row at Wimbledon. It created links. He's young, he's natural, he's a simple guy ...

That's not the image he gives!

-- It's been better recently. He's very appreciated on the tour. It's tough for him right now because he just lost his grandfather, whom he adored. But he's normally in good spirits. He's very spectacular. He really lives his match.

How do you judge his potential?

-- Extraordinary. Most of all because he likes the big matches, he likes playing the best. He has the base, in fact. If he has to play a top player, he wants to do it. It's what he dreams of. And he's very self-confident.

What strikes you about his game?

-- His confidence in his serve. I've seen guys with big serves. I've played against Roddick, who was among the first to have a big second serve. But he serves almost first serves on his second serves. I like that he's brave. He doesn't hesitate, he goes after it. On the court, he wants to be master of his own destiny. Nick has a big personality. He lets something out on the court. There aren't many like him.

What would you say to those who don't know him?

-- That, above all, he has a big heart.

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