John McEnroe claims Nick Kyrgios will be "finished in under five years" after the Canberra firebrand's rollercoaster career continued with a shock first round exit at the US Open.
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Kyrgios claimed he "is not dedicated to the game at all" and probably never would be after completing a "diabolical" grand slam season with a dramatic defeat.
It's a stunning twist with the fiery McEnroe set to team up with the controversial Kyrgios at the inaugural Laver Cup in September.
Kyrgios was called into Team World by captain McEnroe as an injury replacement for Milos Raonic, bringing together two of tennis' most famed tempers.
Kyrgios complained of a "dead" shoulder during his 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-1 US Open loss to fellow Australian John Millman.
The 22-year-old says he'll never be the guy dedicated to doing all the one-percenters and McEnroe says "Nick Kyrgios will be finished in under five years if this carries on".
After winning an unprecedented 20 from 20 matches against lower-ranked or unseeded rivals at grand slams, Kyrgios has since suffered upset losses at five straight majors.
The world No.17 enjoyed one of his best weeks a fortnight ago when he reached his first Masters 1000 final in Cincinnati.
The US Open was set to be his big chance to go deep in a major tournament with some of the game's biggest names missing through injury.
But Kyrgios bowed out early and he admits even he is not surprised.
"I have had a diabolical year at these slams. It doesn't surprise me," Kyrgios said.
"It's just the story of my career, really. I will have good weeks; I'll have bad weeks. It's just a roller-coaster."
It's an ugly turn of events after his performance at the Cincinnati Masters had plenty of people, including former coach Todd Woodbridge, thinking Kyrgios had turned a corner.
Kyrgios made his first Masters final and having three of last year's US Open semi-finalists ruled out made this year's tournament a massive chance for him to make a statement.
But now he's got little time to rue the disappointing early exit with Australia set to battle it out with Belgium in the Davis Cup semi-finals in September.
Kyrgios admits he isn't sure if he will continue working with Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean beyond the Open.
"I don't know, honestly. I'm not good enough for him," Kyrgios said.
"He's very dedicated. He's an unbelievable coach. He probably deserves a player that is probably more dedicated to the game than I am. He deserves a better athlete than me.
"I'm not dedicated to the game at all.
"He's helped me a lot, especially with the training, in training sessions, but there are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, [do the] the one-percenters. I'm not that guy."
The US Open defeat continues Kyrgios' run of outs at the tournament, with McEnroe becoming a repeat offender of criticising the youngster at the major event.
McEnroe teed off on Kyrgios when he withdrew from the US Open last year because of injury, saying: "Nick Kyrgios, if you don't want to be a professional tennis player, do something else."
He threw another uppercut at the Australian Open earlier this year, adding: "It's OK to show your emotions ... but when [Kyrgios] goes through those periods when he's not competing it's just a black eye for the sport. And it's a black eye for him."
Kyrgios will start his Laver Cup campaign against Marin Cilic at the three-day tournament which pits the best of Europe against Team World.
with AAP
