Goran Ivanisevic: I wouldn’t know what to do with Kyrgios as a coach

Nick Kyrgios, who returns this week to play in Washington, has once again created waves by playing up his animosity towards Novak Djokovic.

The 24-year-old put up a video of himself scribbling off Djokovic's name on a fan's shirt, having previously told the No Challenges Remaining podcast that Djokovic “had a sick obsession with wanting to be liked.”

A few days before the video, Djokovic's new coach Goran Ivanisevic had called Kyrgios "good for tennis" but said his criticism of fellow players was "too much" from the Australian.

The 2001 Wimbledon champion told a French website, "Nick is a special person, but he is good for tennis. But what bothers me about it is that he has the talent to be No.1 in the world. But he is totally unpredictable. He can play three crazy matches and then fall flat. I can't imagine his career if he were a bit more serious."

Kyrgios took Nadal to four sets during their second-round meeting at Wimbledon, one of the top and most tense encounters of the tournament's first week. His career so far includes five ATP titles and 18 wins against top 10 players.

Ivanisevic, who joined Djokovic's team just before Wimbledon, was also known as a wild and erratic talent. He was asked about being a potential coach for the currently coachless Kyrgios.

The former pro won Wimbledon in 2001. (Getty Images)

“A lot of people are asking me this question right now, but I do not know what to say, because I do not even know what I could say to him as a coach,” Ivanisevic said, laughing. “Authority seems to be complicated for Nick to handle. In fact, the only solution that seems to be possible to me is that Nick is coached by Nick.

"Of course, I would really like to see him concentrate and seriously prepare for a Grand Slam tournament to see what he is really capable of doing from first to last point.”

But the former professional player, who reached a career-high No. 2, was critical of Kyrgios's comments about Nadal and Djokovic this season, saying it was "too much" to talk about fellow players this way.

Kyrgios criticized Nadal for saying Kyrgios "lacked respect" following his defeat of the Spaniard, and also said he would like to do Djokovic's victory celebration in front of him.

"They are together all year on the courts, on the tour," Ivanisevic said. "You can have your preferences, but you don't have to speak about them publicly. The same goes for this story of the victory celebrations.

"If you beat an opponent you don't like, just give him a smile during the handshake, it's enough."

Kyrgios is ranked No. 48 going into Washington.