LONDON: Nick Kyrgios admits he faces a "crazy" Wimbledon first round meeting with his mentor and fellow bad boy Radek Stepanek.
Kyrgios has earned a reputation as one of the most volatile players on the men's tour after a series of distasteful antics, including appearing to stop trying during his Wimbledon defeat against Richard Gasquet last year.
The 21-year-old denied throwing the game, but was also in hot water during the same last 16 match for swearing and hurling his racquet in the air.
Kyrgios has struggled to stay out of trouble in the 12 months since his combustible experience at Wimbledon, so it is fitting that the world number 18 plays Czech veteran Stepanek when the grass-court Grand Slam gets underway next week.
Stepanek, 37, also has a reputation as a difficult personality on court and he apparently recognised a kindred spirit in Kyrgios, offering to help him with his problems this year.
"To play Stepanek obviously is pretty tough. I'm really good mates with him as well," Kyrgios told reporters at Wimbledon on Saturday.
"To be honest, he was offering to help me a little bit.
"Not so much coaching, he was just helping me a little bit. So I'm playing him now, it's pretty crazy.
"He's getting towards the end of his career, but he's still playing some great tennis. I know it's going to be very tough."
Kyrgios was fined $2,000 for his foul-mouthed rant during the Gasquet clash and drew widespread condemnation in Australia.
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