WATCH: Kyrgios shows his light side in Montreal

Is the ATP's resident bad boy turning over a new leaf?

Just days after retiring from a Citi Open match in Washington, D.C. to a chorus of boos, Nick Kyrgios had a decidedly more positive interaction with the spectators at Rogers Cup in Montreal.

He complied with a fan’s Twitter request to hit some practice balls and drew a sizable, appreciative crowd while he was at it.

As arguably the most polarizing player in tennis, prone to tantrums and brutally honest castigations about his state of mind (his “I don’t really enjoy tennis” remark will probably haunt him for the rest of his career), when Kyrgios does something that flies in the face of his surly image, it’s only natural it draw surprise from spectators.

But perhaps it shouldn’t.

Kyrgios is nothing if not impulsive. If his outbursts are any indication, he thrives on spontaneity. This is someone who recently admitted he “hates traveling” and that he “probably tanked” eight out of 18 recent tournaments.

But a light practice with an eager fan? That’s more interesting for Nick Kyrgios.

If the tennis world is lucky, we’ll see more of these moments from Kyrgios. Moments like this:

He would take his good spirt to the round of 16 before falling to eventual champion Alexander Zverev.

Is this a new side of Kyrgios? Or just a rare, good-natured blip unlikely to reappear? As is always the case with Kyrgios, we may not have to look any further than his next tournament to find out.

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