ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

A local self-confessed sports fan’s interest in tennis is solely dependant on how Nick Kyrgios goes tonight against Grigor Dimitrov.

The fourth round clash between the titans has piqued Michael Rust’s interest, as he’s been following the controversial tennis star for the past few days.

“I thought I’d tune in to see how he goes,” said the 34-year-old.

“Hope he goes well. He’s making me like tennis again, to be honest. Unlike his spoon mate Bernard Tomic. That bloke’s been reading the Newcastle Knights playbook a bit too much I think. A serious spoonman he is,”

“Anyway, if Nick doesn’t win tonight, I guess I’ll probably lose interest in tennis for another year. I’m not about to get up at 2 am to watch the bloke play in Paris or anything.”

As it turns out, Mr Rust is not alone.

In a survey conducted by The Advocate this afternoon via robocalls, all seven respondents said they’d also lose interest in men’s tennis for another twelve months if the Lyneham bad boy bows out.

However, none of them wanted to comment further on the matter as the match had just begun.

This is a developing story.

More to come.