It seemed few could rival Lleyton Hewitt as Alex de Minaur's biggest fan.
But Nick Kyrgios may yet take over the mantle after offering gushing praise for de Minaur despite the teenager's stunning rise robbing him of Australian No.1 status.
Retired dual grand slam champion Hewitt has taken a shine to de Minaur - so much so that that they are even teaming up in the doubles at this week's Brisbane International.
But Kyrgios has also emerged as a vocal supporter of the 19-year-old, marvelling at de Minaur's breakout 2018 season that has taken him to Australian No.1 with a bullet.
While Kyrgios endured a frustrating year, de Minaur has soared from world No.208 to 31 in 2018 to ensure he claimed the ATP Newcomer of the Year honour.
Instead of kicking cans, world No.35 Kyrgios has saluted de Minaur before they feature in the season-opening Brisbane International which starts in earnest on Monday.
Kyrgios may be Brisbane's defending champion and eighth seed but all eyes are on de Minaur after returning to the tournament which launched his stellar 2018 campaign.
"It's always great seeing other Aussies do well. I am not the jealous or envious type - if others have success I am happy for them," Kyrgios said.
"Seeing what Alex has been doing, he is now on the big stage. I know he is excited about the Aussie summer and I am sure he will do very well."
De Minaur made the 2018 Brisbane semi-finals as an unheralded wildcard but he returns this week as the seventh seed.
Kyrgios said he always knew the likes of de Minaur and John Millman - who famously beat Roger Federer in the 2018 US Open fourth round - would share the limelight with him.
"I don't really feel the pressure was on me (to fly Aussie flag at majors)," he said.
"I knew we had a lot of good players, had a lot of depth. We just hadn't broken through yet.
"Now we have a lot of guys there, it's an exciting time for us."
Still, Hewitt will be hard to beat as de Minaur's biggest supporter.
The former world No.1 has worked overtime to help groom de Minaur ahead of what he hopes is another impressive year.
"He's always an incredible help," de Minaur said.
"I am one of the luckiest guys out there. I am doing what I love each day, and people I have looked up to are helping me out.
"I look forward to what is to come."
So does Kyrgios, it seems.
