Mark Philippoussis has warned that Nick Kyrgios’ profession might be in jeopardy if he would not throw the whole lot into rehab on his injured knee.
Twenty years since reaching the Wimbledon ultimate, Philippoussis has painted a grim situation for his fellow Australian who adopted him as a finalist in 2022 however pulled out on event eve this 12 months with a wrist damage following season-long knee bother.
Philippoussis, who had six surgical procedures on his knee, is aware of how troublesome it will likely be for Kyrgios, at 28, to rebound from his January surgical procedure and was left alarmed after watching him play his solely match since, a tame loss in Stuttgart a month in the past.
“He’s not even close to being fit, and I knew straight away he was in trouble,” stated Philippoussis at Wimbledon the place he is competing within the legends’ invitation occasions.
“If he comes back too early, which we have seen, and if he’s not putting in the work physically on that knee to strengthen that joint, unfortunately I’m not sure how much we’re going to see him.
“You have to present your self each alternative to return again and if you happen to’re an enormous man and get a knee challenge, you higher get it proper earlier than you come again as a result of it is simply going to make it worse, you are going to be out additional and your profession might be accomplished.”
Asked if he feared for Kyrgios, who’s famously never been one for hard off-court training, Philippoussis added: “He’s bought to worry for himself. I’ve grow to be a knee professional after six knee surgical procedures and it is one thing you’ll be able to’t fiddle with. You’re speaking about your motion.
“My worry for him years ago was ‘is he putting in the work physically?’ and if he was to get that first major injury, I’m not saying it could be career-ending but it could be very dangerous if you don’t put in that rehab work.
“I do not care how good your fingers are, if you happen to’re not attending to the ball, and also you’re one-and-a-half, two steps slower, in opposition to any top-100, 200 participant, it should be robust on the market.”
Philippoussis, who’s just left as a coaching assistant to Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, also cited his own 24-7 efforts to get fit again after being plagued by his own knee problems in the early 2000s.
“Three (medics) stated I’d by no means play tennis once more, however I eat, sleep and breathe rehabilitation. I labored with a therapist, who got here to my home, I labored with the Miami Heat workforce on rehab, did pilates, yoga, the whole lot.”
But asked if might be able to help Kyrgios, Philippoussis wasn’t sure any help would be wanted anyway.
“Everyone can wish to assist somebody as a lot as doable, but when that particular person isn’t prepared to assist themselves, then it is all pointless,” he shrugged.
“We all know the place Nick stands so far as he is very completely satisfied to be very free with the best way he performs and never have a coach. And I doubt very a lot something goes to vary with the health facet.
“If he’s happy with that, then no problem. The most important thing is for him to be happy in his life, because sports stops at some stage, and it’s about what’s really important – and that’s his life.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
