Nick Kyrgios: 2016 will be the year for Aussie teen, says John Isner

John Isner predicted that the 2016 would be the breakthrough season for tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios, who has displayed some up and downs in his young career due to the Aussie teen’s approach to the sport.

Isner has made some interesting comparisons of tennis stars to the career paths of a handful of WWE superstars. Among the figures mentioned, the most interesting Isner revealed was likening Kyrgios to Stone Cold Steve Austin, with both professionals baring the same “bad boy” image in their respective sport.

But despite Kyrgios’ unusual approach to tennis, having the unpredictable nature he always has, Isner believes 2016 will be the year for the Canberran to finally earn the fans’ admiration by using his potential to win tournaments.

“But I have a prediction for 2016: This will be the year of the Nick Kyrgios face-turn,” Isner said, reports News. “He’s got the game and he’s got the personality. It’s just up to him to harness it.”

Kyrgios is, so far, having the best season of his young career after winning is first ATP World Tour-level title at the Open 13 in Marseille in February. In his most recent competition, the 20-year-old reached the semifinal round of the Miami Open, becoming the first Aussie to do so since Lleyton Hewitt’s run in 2002.

Kyrgios also broke into the top 20 for the first time in his career following his Miami Open quarterfinal victory over Canada’s Milos Raonic. The Aussie teen’s next tournament will be at the Millennium Estoril Open later this month, where Kyrgios kicks off his clay-season campaign and hopes to unseat defending champion Richard Gasquet.

For those of you asking my next event will be the clay court event in Estoril. I'm looking forward to it. ____

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) April 2, 2016

Credit: Twitter/Nicholas Kyrgios

Meanwhile, Kyrgios also confirmed his participation in the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club this summer. Kyrgios joins the likes of Milos Raonic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal at the tournament on Jun. 13-19.

"Grass courts are my favourite surface," Kyrgios said, reports the BBC. "The conditions are perfect, all the Australians have played well there over the years and I'm pumped to be coming back."