NEW YORK - Playing basketball, eating ice cream and drinking milkshakes during tennis tournaments.

Nick Kyrgios admitted he had not been dedicated in his roller coaster career after being dumped out of the US Open in the first round on Tuesday.

The mercurial 22-year-old, one of the most gifted players on the tour, lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 to fellow Australian John Millman after injuring his right shoulder.

The 14th seed had treatment at the beginning of the third set, but Kyrgios gradually appeared to lose interest in the match.

He received a warning for allegedly cursing and broke his racket as he produced a string of unforced errors at Louis Armstrong Stadium in front of his coach, Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

"I'm not good enough for him. You know, he's very dedicated. He's an unbelievable coach," Kyrgios told a media conference that turned into a self-battering session.

"He probably deserves a player that is more dedicated to the game than I am. He deserves a better athlete than me."

Although Kyrgios said he was focused on the US Open, he stressed that he's not always been dedicated, citing his behavior at the Cincinnati Open, where he reached the final.

"I was probably even less dedicated than I was this week. I was playing basketball at Lifetime Fitness every day for two hours. I played an hour of basketball before I played David Ferrer in the semifinal," he said.

"I was eating ice cream and drinking milkshakes every day. I was less dedicated."

Kyrgios added he did not know if he would continue with Grosjean, explaining he was not a player who could be trusted.

"I keep letting people down," he said.

"I'm not dedicated to the game at all. There are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, the one-percenters. I'm not that guy."

It's nothing that really depresses Kyrgios, though. "It's not the end of the world. I will get over it in probably half an hour. I will get food and watch the matches. It is what it is," he said.

There is one thing, however, that Kyrgios manages to get seriously involved in: the Davis Cup.

"I've put a lot of effort into the Davis Cup this year. I obviously made myself available for every tie," he said.

"You know, really bought in, really gave everything ... and we are doing so well. It is my goal to win the Davis Cup, so we'll see."

Australia takes on Belgium in Brussels, Sept 15-17.

"Well, I've got time up my sleeve now," said Kyrgios.

The supremely talented and temperamental young man has reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals and last month defeated 15-time major champion Rafael Nadal en route to the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

But he doesn't seem interested in keeping it going.

Associated Press

(China Daily 09/01/2017 page24)