A terrific run of form in the second half of 2022 set Nick Kyrgios among Grand Slam contenders and although the Aussie knows there are high expectations of him heading to Melbourne Park next month, he says he has learned to accept the pressure.
After years of underperformance, the talented but wayward Kyrgios won the Citi Open in Washington and reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
The 27-year-old, who won the australian open men’s doubles title in January with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, also reached the quarter-finals of the US Open, losing in five sets to Karen Khachanov.
His best result in the Australian Open singles tournament was a quarter-final berth in 2015 and it’s safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much further at the Grand Slam. season opener this time around.
“…I totally understand going onto the match pitch with all this expectation that ‘Nick Kyrgios (has) a legitimate chance to win a Grand Slam now,'” Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday. .
“There’s a lot of pressure there, especially with the Australian Open and everyone in Australia expects big things from me. Sometimes it’s a lot to deal with. Being in the spotlight isn’t easy.
“I feel like I’ve accepted that and risen to that challenge. It’s not easy, I’ve worked really hard to try to channel it, internalize it and use it as fuel “, added Kyrgios, who participates in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The 2023 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29.
After years of underperformance, the talented but wayward Kyrgios won the Citi Open in Washington and reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
The 27-year-old, who won the australian open men’s doubles title in January with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis, also reached the quarter-finals of the US Open, losing in five sets to Karen Khachanov.
His best result in the Australian Open singles tournament was a quarter-final berth in 2015 and it’s safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much further at the Grand Slam. season opener this time around.
“…I totally understand going onto the match pitch with all this expectation that ‘Nick Kyrgios (has) a legitimate chance to win a Grand Slam now,'” Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday. .
“There’s a lot of pressure there, especially with the Australian Open and everyone in Australia expects big things from me. Sometimes it’s a lot to deal with. Being in the spotlight isn’t easy.
“I feel like I’ve accepted that and risen to that challenge. It’s not easy, I’ve worked really hard to try to channel it, internalize it and use it as fuel “, added Kyrgios, who participates in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The 2023 Australian Open will take place at Melbourne Park from January 16-29.
