From one tennis bad boy to another, Jimmy Connors has offered to coach mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios.

The 21-year-old, ranked 14th in the world, has been suspended by the ATP following his behaviour at the Shanghai Masters, where he appeared to give up against Mischa Zverev, before becoming involved in a verbal altercation with a supporter and failing, at least initially, to show contrition for his transgressions. 

Kyrgios is regarded as one of the sport's most promising youngsters, but remains without a full-time coach and appears to be struggling to harness the full potential of his considerable talent.

Connors courted controversy throughout his career, but it did not stop him winning eight grand slam singles titles.

And the 64-year-old American has posted a message on Twitter attempting to goad Kyrgios into making the most of his abilities - with the help of the former world number one.

"Kyrgios-- you want to be the best-- come see me-- you will learn to play, excite, and to win!! It's you choice-- or just be mediocre!gd luck," he wrote.

Kyrgios, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2014 and the same stage of the Australian Open a year later, hit the headlines again this week when it was revealed he had chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Match rather than compete in the Rotterdam Open in February.