Pat Cash has claimed that Nick Kyrgios “plays the victim” ahead of the Australian’s long-awaited return to the tour. The 28-year-old is set to play the upcoming ATP 250 event in Stuttgart after undergoing knee surgery in January. And his countryman has claimed that Kyrgios often believes nobody likes him while discussing his mental attitude.

Kyrgios is yet to start his 2023 season after pulling out of the Australian Open to have an arthroscopic procedure. His comeback has been postponed numerous times but he has now been confirmed for the Boss Open in Stuttgart after pulling out of the French Open.

The world No 26 will be hoping to improve on his form from last year, which saw him reach his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. And Pat Cash has explained what Kyrgios needs to win a Major while claiming that he often played the role of the victim and thought he was disliked.

“I’ve said this quite a number of years ago, I said if Nick can just improve his mental capacity to be able to focus in matches just five per cent every year or three per cent every year then he’ll be a contender for Grand Slams,” he told the Control the Controllables podcast.

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A former Wimbledon champion himself, Cash thought that his compatriot had already been able to do that but lamented how often Kyrgios had an on-court outburst. “And that’s exactly what he’s done. He’s done really well in that respect,” he added.

“He realises that he’s never going to be perfect and he’s going to explode and lose his temper.” Comparing Kyrgios to himself, the former world No 4 explained: “I’m certainly someone who did that but not to the disrespect.

“Of course I yelled at my coach in frustration at some stage but if you ask Marcus how many times I did that, he’d be able to count on the same hand. But there wouldn’t be a set without him doing it a handful of times. I did it a handful of times in my whole career.”

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Cash also compared Kyrgios to John McEnroe before claiming that the seven-time title winner often believed that people were against him when that wasn’t the case. “I think John certainly pushed the envelope more than probably he should have, more than should have been allowed,” he said of McEnroe.

“I have no doubt about it. He got away with a lot. And Nick as well, he plays the victim very well like ‘everybody is after me and nobody likes me.’ It’s not true at all. It’s just all in his head.”

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