Nick Kyrgios broke through to win his maiden ATP tour title last week at Marseille in convincing fashion. The Australian has long been pegged as a player with the potential to eventually become world No. 1, if he can remain focused on his game. After his recent performance, has he finally turned a corner in that direction?

Last week was the most impressive of Kyrgios’ career as he rolled through the ATP 250 event in France. He would not drop a set en route to the championship, dispatching Richard Gasquet, Tomas Berdych, and Marin Cilic in order. He appeared to be “all-in,” particularly in his semifinal win against world No. 7 Berdych, where he was overwhelming in a 6-4 6-2 result. The title moved him to world No. 33, a position many feel is an underachievement given the Aussie’s talent level. Nonetheless, Krygios continues to dazzle fans who fill up venues to view a player who has received more publicity for antics outside his accomplishments between the lines.

This week, Kyrgios rolled into Dubai, a tournament that features world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 4 Stan Wawrinka. He is on a potential collision course with the player who was at the center of his most notable of non-tennis related antics. Last August, the 20-year-old took shots at Wawrinka’s girlfriend (Donna Vekic) mid-match at the Montreal Masters. The incident hit Kyrgios in the wallet and placed him on the cusp of a suspension. It also cost him some respect from many veterans on the tour. The two players are a win apiece away from facing off for the first time since that match.

Interestingly, whereas Kyrgios appeared to be all about tennis last week, he seems to be agitated this week. In his first-round match against Martin Klizan, Krygios overcame a one-set deficit to advance, but he clearly annoyed the Slovak along the way. There were periods when he looked disinterested, appearing to simply go through the motions with an ill-tempered demeanor. Then, he antagonized Klizan as he refused to sit during the 90-second changeovers. Nevertheless, a match that looked to be headed towards a loss went into the Kyrgios win column.

Now, a volatile Kyrgios is set to embark on another gauntlet beginning Thursday:  one where he could potentially face Berdych, Wawrinka, and Djokovic in the next few days in Dubai. It begs the question as to whether he will return to the formula that gained him success last week, when he defeated three top-12 players, or will distractions and shenanigans sidetrack him once more?

History has not been on his side when facing the best if his attention is diverted from the competition at hand. There is a backlog of cases when Kyrgios has appeared to mail in performances against some of the world’s best. However, he only needs to look back to a week ago for a formula that gives him the best chance to succeed. Will he tap into that once more?

This is a stretch that could define Kyrgios as a champion, particularly if he builds upon his Marseille success in Dubai. He took to social media when a Facebook tennis fan implied that his victory in France was a fluke. Striking back at the fan, Kyrgios confidently replied, ‘Yep. Gasquet, Berdych and Cilic in straight sets back to back is a fluke and ‘minor’. See ya hater.” Now, he has an opportunity to back up his confidence on the court. Success during this stretch could turn so-called “haters” into believers, disproving the notion that last week was a one-and-done. Can he take that next step, or will he fall back into his old ways, giving disbelievers more fuel to pour on their fire?

It is a very difficult upcoming stretch for Kyrgios or any player, for that matter. And it might not be rational to expect him to eliminate three top-10 players, including the world No. 1, this week. But if he pours himself into those matches, win or lose, he might just take a step in the direction of meeting the expectations his talent demands. And along the way he might gain the respect of those who feel he is wasting that talent as well.