Wednesday 2 September 2015 09:24, UK
Nick Kyrgios insists his bad-boy reputation is "ridiculous" but admits he has learned the merits of keeping his mouth shut.
Kyrgios lost 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1 to Andy Murray in the US Open first round on Tuesday night to conclude a chaotic month for the volatile 20-year-old.
An ugly spat with Stan Wawrinka, in which Kyrgios made vulgar remarks about the Swiss' girlfriend, has become the latest in a long list of misdemeanours.
Some of the American crowd appeared reluctant to support the world No 37 on Arthur Ashe but Kyrgios believes negativity associated with him and fellow Australian Bernard Tomic is unfair.
"Myself and Bernard, it's so funny because Bernard, he's harmless," Kyrgios said.
"He's just a normal kid. I don't really understand where he gets this reputation from, or where I get it from at all.
"We show emotion out there. We might not be the most usual tennis players you see but somehow we got this reputation that's just ridiculous."
Kyrgios has expressed regret for his exchange with Wawrinka but insisted he felt no embarrassment for what happened.
"I'd like to think that I'm going to learn from it. I think I have," Kyrgios said. "I think I'm on the right path. I don't think any of us in this room right now were perfect at 20. Speak up if you were... thought so.
"What have I learned? Keep your mouth shut at times."
Kyrgios has enlisted the help of Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt and his newly-appointed "mentor" was watching on from the players' box.
It seemed to have little effect on the youngster's performance as he produced a typically explosive display that included trick shots, racket slams and moans at the umpire.
"Lleyton has taken time out. I'm really thankful for that," Kyrgios said.
"He's really helped me a lot the last couple of weeks. He let me stay with him in the Bahamas for some preparation.
"He's been a massive part of getting my head stable, and being able to have the performance tonight. I think that's massive. That's all Lleyton. It's easy to listen to him obviously. He's been there. He's won Grand Slams.
"He's won here. But he's been through it all. I think we've got a really good relationship now, which is going to be unbelievable for the Davis Cup. I have really good trust in him."
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