Nick Kyrgios's hip needs urgent attention

Nick Kyrgios's failing body has cost the exciting youngster one of the most enviable records in tennis.

Nick Kyrgios winces in pain.

A crestfallen and in pain Nick Kyrgios might just have to bite the bullet and have hip surgery. (AAP)

They are the alarming numbers that confirm Nick Kyrgios's chronic hip injury needs urgent attention if the mercurial talent is to re-emerge as a grand slam tennis force.

As Kyrgios awaits results of an MRI scan after being forced to retire mid-match at a major for the second time in nine months, it can be revealed that the 22-year-old's failing body has cost him one of the most enviable records in the game.

Before his hip issue surfaced ahead of last year's US Open, Kyrgios won 20 from 20 matches against unseeded or lower-ranked opponents at the slams.

Not even all-time greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic could boast such flawless reliability.

But since battling the problem, which hinders his ability to push off for his explosive serve and "virtually everything" else he tries on the court, Kyrgios has crashed out of the past four grand slams to lower-ranked rivals.

The world No.20 has failed to progress beyond even the third round in falling to Ilya Marchenko, Andreas Seppi, Kevin Anderson and Pierre-Hugues Herbert on his most recent visits to New York, Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon.

With Kyrgios reluctant to undergo surgery, former Australian Davis Cup captain and world No.1 John Newcombe is advising the Canberran to embark on a rigorous fitness regime to transform his brittle body.

"You've got to look back over the last couple of years. It was okay when Nick was 18 and 19, but he hasn't been working as hard as he should," Newcombe said.

"With his build, he needs to really have strong muscles and ligaments around all the joints.

"And because he's not strong enough, they're breaking down as he's entering his 20s.

"We saw it with Mark (Philippoussis) that the joints started to break down, a little bit later because Mark did do some work at different times.

"Nick can play a five-set match, but the body's not strong enough to hold the joints together at the arm and the shoulder and the knees and the hips.

"So you're getting constantly a breakdown because the support structure is not there.

"Nick needs to take a couple of months and find the best trainer he can and make a dedicated effort to himself: 'I'm going to get as fit as I possibly can'.

"If he does, he's top five, six in the world."

He may have lost credibility with his Wimbledon antics, but countryman Bernard Tomic climbed to his career-high ranking after undergoing double hip surgery three years ago and is encouraging Kyrgios to also bite the bullet.

"He just needs to do it because there is a lot of players that have done it - Raonic, Lleyton, myself," Tomic said.

"He needs it done because he's serving and he's an explosive player and he's using those hips and legs. I feel he has to put aside a couple months.

"I was out for five months. He's not doing two hips, I believe. One shouldn't be a problem. Should be back enjoying tennis in a couple months."


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Source: AAP



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