HE is known as Wild Thing.

And he has the blessing of Super Brat. John McEnroe said at Roland Garros yesterday that he sees similarities between himself and Nick Kyrgios of Australia, and made the bold claim that the exuberant 20-year-old from Canberra could even be World No 1 in the next few years.

"I had an earring briefly, not as big as his," said the combustible seven-time Grand Slam winner, in recognition of the square, diamond-studded piece of bling which adorns the giant Australian's left earlobe. "It's not that we play the same game, the game he plays is unpredictable. But he's got personality. He's got belief in himself. He brings something - you can feel it on the court. He talks a lot, he's out there expressing himself. So from that standpoint I'd be very proud to say 'yes I see something similar'."

Kyrgios arrives in Roland Garros at a career high ranking of 30, but McEnroe is surprised those giant, basketball-size strides of his haven't seen him rise further, quicker. "I believe he's got a shot at being the number one player in the world in the next couple of years, certainly without question the top five," said McEnroe, who reached the final only once at Roland Garros, when he lost to Ivan Lendl in five sets back in 1984. "It would be good to have someone with his background, and with Australia's incredible history. I suspect if he takes it seriously and is able to commit himself he is going to be a truly great player. I don't know if he is ready to beat Murray yet in the third round but that is the type of match I really look forward to."

For an uncomplicated, working class kid from Canberra, Kyrgios cultivates the kind of cult of personality which is rare in modern tennis. His father George is a Greek painter and decorator and mother Norlaila, who famously wrote off his chances of beating Rafa Nadal at SWI9 last year, is a software engineer from Malaysia.

Perhaps that is why he seems to enjoy the trappings of fame more than some. The 20-year-old drives fast cars, namechecks R 'n' B artists such as Drake and Rihanna, and flirts openly with models and female tennis stars such as Victoria Azarenka and Kiki Mladenovic. After an appearance in Vogue on his 20th birthday, only last week he was bragging in GQ about how he doesn't "abide" by a rule which bans sex before matches.

If it leaves him open to the charge of being regarded as arrogant, it doesn't appear to worry him unduly. "The greatest people in every sport have an unbelievable amount of self-confidence," he said. "That's one thing that makes me a good tennis player: I have a lot of belief in myself. You don't see many 19-year-olds or 20-year-olds beating the greatest of all time."

Without wanting to disrespect that generation - he added a defeat of Roger Federer on clay to last year's Wimbledon win against Nadal - Kyrgios sees himself as a throwback to that McEnroe era where rivalries seemed to fester a little bit more."I wouldn't call myself a rebel," he added. "But I'm maybe different to the rest of the guys. Back in the day there was a lot of sledging on court and that might be lost a little now but there are some good characters going around. Guys like [Gael] Monfils are entertaining, and I feel like I've got that same personality to go out and put on a bit of a show."

In this sense, it isn't exactly clear whether he sees Murray as a bitter rival or a good friend. "He's been really nice to me, and to the other young guys, he has almost mentored us and offered to hit," said Kyrgios. "I think he's a great role model and if I was going to ask for help he'd be someone I'd turn to. But you've still got put that to one side when you go out and play him. You watch him on TV and all of a sudden I'm playing him in the third round of the French Open. It's a tough situation."

"He is a little out there but his talent level is unbelievable," said Jamie Murray's Aussie doubles partner John Peers, surely a future Davis Cup team-mate. "You have got to give him credit. He is making headlines and bringing numbers back in the game. [Lleyton] Hewitt had that X Factor too growing up. Some people liked him, some hated him but he knows how to play tennis."

Suffering from a back issue when Murray overcame him in Melbourne, Kyrgios entered Paris with an elbow problem, although two days rest caused by the withdrawal of Kyle Edmund helped. Sex ban or not, he 'probably' won't take any chances overnight, but in general terms Wild Thing has no intention of becoming tamed and domesticated. "I'll continue to say what I think and that's how it's going to be," he said. "If I play the right game style I definitely think I can win."