Unfortunately, Nick Kyrgios believes that he is not wanted as a representative of this country, despite being a reflection of modern Australia.
Kyrgios has faced prejudice and skepticism throughout his professional journey, yet he continues to have a strong following among Australians. This was evident during his match on Tuesday evening in Melbourne, where the audience, encouraged by world number one Novak Djokovic, enthusiastically supported the tennis player. Kyrgios, who was raised in Canberra by a Greek father and Malaysian mother, received a warm reception from the crowd.
Kyrgios was ready to conduct the post-match interview with Djokovic, but the Serb promptly took control of the moment. Disregarding the initial inquiry, Djokovic addressed the audience with a microphone in hand.
“Let’s show some love to Nick! We miss him!”
The audience erupted with excitement and Kyrgios seemed slightly bashful. It was a heartwarming moment between two individuals who have never experienced the same level of acceptance they thought they deserved.
As Kyrgios remains in the process of healing from his injuries, which have prevented him from competing in tennis for approximately a year, I urge him to reflect on that particular moment.
In a recent article published in Nine newspapers, the author contemplates an early retirement due to injuries and expresses sadness over his waning motivation to represent Australia in recent times.
I used to have a strong desire to play for my country, but now I am unsure. To be honest, I don’t feel like Australia has shown much interest in having me as a representative.
“I have previously expressed that I tend to feel more comfortable when I am away from my usual surroundings.”
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It is understandable that he feels this way, especially since he shared with Men’s Health last year that he has faced instances of “bad racism” in his life.
He stated that Australia is generally a very racist country, ranking among the most racist countries in the world.
Several prominent figures in the Australian sports community have directed derogatory comments towards myself and my family, telling us to return to our origin. This type of behavior is completely unacceptable.
This is all ultimately very sad, predictable and relatable for young men from ethnic backgrounds.
Criticism of being conceited, inflexible, hostile, or uncivilized is frequently aimed towards young men who come from immigrant backgrounds. These stereotypes stem from prejudiced depictions of uncultured, uncivilized, and foreign males.
It is uninteresting to constantly hear these unenthusiastic labels being used when Kyrgios steps onto the court. Showing passion on the court should be praised, not suppressed.
This demonstrates that he is attentive and emotionally invested in the present, rather than being distant and influenced by media coaching. Additionally, his actions are often humorous and his sharp intelligence is a valuable asset in a sport that can often feel rigid and awkward.
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The negative perception of his self-assurance is ultimately due to a prejudiced perspective towards men of different ethnicities. However, many of these men do not see it as arrogance when portrayed on screen.
The same sense of confidence is evident in western Sydney’s soccer and basketball games, as well as in intense Fifa video game competitions at home and playful teasing conversations among friends in online group chats.
It was always enjoyable to witness that same playful attitude on the tennis court.
Kyrgios represented all the boys I grew up with, men who learned to bite their tongues in professional settings, who hide their large personalities for fear of being misinterpreted. He was setting an example – a man from a migrant background showing others like him they shouldn’t have to hide who they are.
The familiarity of his hoodies, flashy cars, strong self-defense, caps, and chains was striking.
Kyrgios represented me, and my own journey towards embracing my Lebanese background as important and celebrated parts of who I am.
The scrutiny of Kyrgios, centered on his supposed conceit and aggression, reflects a traditional Australia that is resistant to change and fearful of these young men.
The rejection of Kyrgios by various parts of Australia, including the media, indicates that the nation may not be prepared to accept the emergence of a different Australia.
About 50% of Australians have at least one parent who was born in a different country, and over 25% were born overseas themselves. The evidence suggests that there is an increasing diversity of cultures within the nation.
This suggests that there will likely be an increase in the number of sports celebrities who come from migrant families, such as Kyrgios, in the years to come. It is time for Australia to mature and accept these individuals.
Source: theguardian.com
