Copyright © 2016. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Nick Kyrgios is bonding with Australia’s new Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt but Evonne Goolagong Cawley, one of the unquestioned sporting greats from Down Under believes the tempestuous 20 year-old could do a lot worse than spend more time with more mature legends such as Rod Laver and Roy Emerson.

She believes they are the perfect role models for Kyrgios, who next week is guaranteed a new career high ranking after his run at the Miami Open.

Goolagong Cawley was speaking in Kyrgios’ hometown of Canberra where she was running  a tennis clinic with Indigenous children.

“It’s really up to Kyrgios now whether he behaves himself,” said the 64 year-old former Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon champion. “You never saw my heroes like Laver and Emmo carry on like that.

“I would like to see the elders of tennis, like Laver, Emmo and all those top players  actually sit down and talk to him. Maybe he’ll learn from their advice.”

Goolagong Cawley said she was sad the way trouble seems to follow Kyrgios around because she is a big fan of his natural ability and she loves watching him play.

She said: “He’s got so much talent. He’s wonderful to watch as a player. It’s great to see that sort of talent coming along.

He’s got great hands, he’s got speed, he’s got height, he’s got everything. All he probably needs is just to behave a bit better.”

Goolagong Cawley also voiced her opinions on the equal prize money debate and the seven times major winning former world no.1 said: “What happened to equal opportunity? Not just in tennis, but everything. It’s something that Billie Jean King fought for. She played Bobby Riggs for that, and beat him.

“Yes, the men do play more sets in Grand Slams but that’s the only difference as far as I can see. Think of a father. Their daughter may want to become the No.1 player in the world and follow Serena . If they can achieve no.1 in the world, they should be paid the same as no.1 in the world for the men.”

Copyright © 2016. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.