Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios says that underneath the temper tantrums and trash-talking is a big softie trying to escape.
The volatile Australian, fined recently for a sexual insult aimed at Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend while playing a match against the Swiss, launched a charm offensive after racing into the Japan Open quarter-finals.
"I'm very different off the court than I am on it," insisted Kyrgios, who remains on course to face French Open champion Wawrinka in this weekend's Tokyo final in what would be a fiery encounter.
"On the court, obviously I'm very intense and I show a lot of emotion. But off the court I'm very laid back, I like to relax and chill out.
"I'm definitely not a scary person," added the controversial 20-year-old, who was booed at Wimbledon earlier this year for appearing to tank a game against Frenchman Richard Gasquet after a dispute with the chair umpire.
"I feel as if I'm a nice person. Definitely I feel I'm maturing and learning to find that balance between having fun and playing well. When I do that is when I play my best tennis."
It is unlikely Wawrinka will share that view after Kyrgios sparked a blazing row by claiming his friend and Davis Cup team mate Thanasi Kokkinakis was romantically involved with Wawrinka's partner, the Croatian player Donna Vekic.
After reaching the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur last week, Kyrgios refused to entertain thoughts of a first career title following his pulverising 6-4 6-2 win over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in Japan on Thursday.
"I thought I was close last week but I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself," he said.
"Obviously guys like Stan and Kei (Nishikori), guys who have been in grand slam finals are still there, so I feel like I'm one of the underdogs."
AFP