Nick Kyrgios still in the hunt for new coach after Melbourne meltdown

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios said on Tuesday he was still looking to hire a coach after his spectacular grand slam meltdown in Melbourne, admitting it was “something I’ve got to do moving forward”.

The temperamental 21-year-old – who plays in the Davis Cup World Group tie against the Czech Republic beginning on Friday – acknowledged after his second-round Australian Open defeat that he needed coaching.

Kyrgios said he had “a couple” of candidates in mind, without naming anyone, but added that the right person needed to have Kyrgios’ “best interests at heart”.

“I think it’s something I’ve got to do moving forward,” he told Fairfax Media.

“I’ve got to (world number) 13 in the world without one, so hopefully with a coach I can improve my game and get there.

“It’s tough to bring someone on the team that’s not willing to care about me as a person first, and tennis second, so I’ve got find the right person.”

Kyrgios has been without a coach since parting with Todd Larkham before Wimbledon in 2015.

Tennis greats slammed the current world number 15 after his early Melbourne Park exit, saying that he was highly talented but needed to deal with behavioural issues.

Kyrgios said he had time on his side but admitted that “there’s a lot of work to do”.

“I’ve got to improve a lot of things in my game, I’ve got to work harder.

“I take the easy way out a lot of times, so I’ve got to get more disciplined, hopefully get a coach soon.

“I think people tend to forget I’ve beaten nearly every best player in the world, so that gets overlooked.”

The Davis Cup world group opening-round clash takes place at Kooyong in Melbourne between February 3-5.