Now that Nick Kyrgios is winning, what can the rest of us learn—and not learn—from his sui generis playing style?

WATCH: Kyrgios continues his winning ways in Montreal with a win over the world No. 1.

The Summer of Nick

As tennis players and fans make their way toward the US Open, we'll take a closer look at the past, present and future of Nick Kyrgios—someone who has made plenty of headlines, good and bad, in previous hard-court summers. Like Kyrgios, where this series takes us in anyone's guess.

Most memorable moment, Canada—PART ONE: They can't all be good memories when we're talking about Kyrgios. Montreal was the venue for perhaps the lowest moment of Nick's career: "the sledge." Or, as we put it in 2015, "the insult heard 'round the world."

In the heat of battle against Stan Wawrinka, Kyrgios lashed out, saying, "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate."

The brash Aussie was referencing his countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, who had formerly partnered Donna Vekic, in mixed doubles play. Both Kokkinakis and the Wawrinka had been linked romantically to Vekic.

Most memorable moment, Canada—PART TWO: The Summer of Nick, indeed. Backing up his victorious week in Washington, D.C.—where he lifted singles and doubles trophies—Kyrgios earned his first win over a world No. 1 in Montreal, defeating Daniil Medvedev, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2.

Pity the poor teaching pros and junior coaches of the world. The more Nick Kyrgios wins, the harder their lives must get. As they’ve watched the sport’s most famous rogue actor turn himself into a consistent winner this year, tennis coaches have had to contemplate a world where their students are begging to learn how to hit a serve from between their legs, or asking why it’s not OK for them to holler their heads off at their friends and family after every missed shot.

Chances are slim that Kyrgios will ever be a role model when it comes to his on-court behavior. As a player, before 2022, he seemed destined to be seen as a cautionary tale, about the perils of having the game come too easily, and the many ways that God-given talent can be squandered. But at the relatively advanced age of 27, he has begun to rewrite that tragic script. Kyrgios is 28-7 so far this year, has reached the semifinals or better in five or his last six tournaments, and made his first Grand Slam final. He’s showing up for more events, and he’s not tanking when he gets there.

Is it time for recreational players to see what they can take from his success? Here’s a look at what you can learn—and not learn—from this semi-reformed late-bloomer.

Get Fitter

Photos of Kyrgios from 2022, and before 2022, are night and day. Since the start of this season, he has looked like a different person—lighter, leaner, fitter. That’s where improvement begins in tennis. Before you can hit the ball well, you have to get in position for it, and being in shape helps you do that more quickly and more often. Just as important, it gives you the confidence that you can last through a long match, and not have to feel like you need to conserve energy at any stage.

To play the modern game, you also need to be able to run around your backhand so you can hit as many forehands as possible. That means repeating an explosive movement over and over again. Kyrgios has one of the most lethal forehands in the game, and because of his fitness, he’s using it more often, and more effectively, than ever before.

Keep Your Opponents Off Balance

Kyrgios, of course, takes this concept to the extreme. Even on the most important point of a match, he has no problem trying a passing shot from between his legs, or attempting to thread a delicate drop shot over the net when a simple forehand will do. As skilled as he is at those plays, they often backfire and leave commentators scratching their heads and asking, “Why?”

Properly applied and reined in, though, there’s a method beneath this madness. If you can force your opponents to guard against any shot at any time, you’ll make them uncomfortable, and they’ll have to alter their court positioning to prepare for multiple possibilities. If you can get them to believe that a drop shot might be coming, your next forehand drive should be that much more effective. The same goes with the serve. If a player has to stand close to the baseline to guard against a surprise underhand delivery, they’ll have a little less time to react to your flat bomb.

Don’t Fear the Players You’re Supposed to Beat

Kyrgios has never had a problem competing hard when he has nothing to lose. When he faces Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, he goes all out; there’s no shame in trying your best and failing against those guys. In the past, though, he has had trouble bringing that put-it-all-on-the-line attitude to matches against lower-ranked or less-talented opponents—the players he’s supposed to beat.

It can be tough for anyone, psychologically, to face off against a less-talented but still-pesky opponent. They have something to gain, and you have something to lose. But these are the matches that the best players must win, and do win, all the time. This season, Kyrgios has been competing in and winning them, too.

Take a cue from the players who in this situation most often, the Big Three. Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer don’t seem to make any distinctions between opponents. They approach every match exactly the same way, with the same practice schedules, the same before-match and between-point rituals, and the same business-like attitude. They know they can lose to anyone on tour, and that there’s no shame in failing if you’ve done everything you can to succeed. That’s a big part of the reason they lose so few of those matches. Kyrgios has the talent to do the same thing.

Vent and Move On

The trademark of any Kyrgios match isn’t so much his serve or his forehand; it’s his voice. He uses it more than any other player, especially when he starts to face adversity.

There’s a place for venting in tennis. If you bottle up your frustration, you may play less freely, and continue to think about past mistakes. Letting it out is OK. The problem for Kyrgios comes when he can’t let something go. He vents at his team, or the chair umpire, or a woman in the stands who he says has had “700 drinks.” But it doesn’t end there. He harps on whatever mistake he thinks these people have made, or whatever he thinks they’ve done to wrong him. Responsibility is shifted.

Don’t shift the responsibility for your mistakes. And don’t let one error or lost point set you off, the way it can to Kyrgios. A tennis match is a long series of points, of winners and errors that accumulate over time. If you worry too much about one of them, you won’t be in the right frame of mind to play the rest.