A great run of form in the second half of 2022 Nick Kyrgios among Grand Slam contenders, and while the Australian knows there’s a lot expected of him when he heads to Melbourne Park next month, he says he’s learned to take the pressure.
After years of underperforming, the talented but spirited 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 quarterfinals of the US Open, losing to Karen Khachanov in five sets.
His best singles finish at the Australian Open was a place in the quarterfinals in 2015 and it’s safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much deeper this time in the season-opening Grand Slam.
“… I totally understand going onto the pitch with all this expectation that ‘Nick Kyrgios now has a legitimate chance of winning a Grand Slam,'” Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday.
“There is a lot of pressure there, especially at the Australian Open and everyone in Australia who is expecting big things from me. It’s a lot to deal with sometimes. Being in the spotlight is not easy.
“I feel like I embraced that and took on that challenge. It’s not easy, I’ve worked really hard to channel it, internalize it and use it as fuel,” added Kyrgios, who competes in the Diriyah tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Australian Open 2023 will be held at Melbourne Park from January 16th to 29th.
After years of underperforming, the talented but spirited 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 quarterfinals of the US Open, losing to Karen Khachanov in five sets.
His best singles finish at the Australian Open was a place in the quarterfinals in 2015 and it’s safe to say his compatriots expect him to go much deeper this time in the season-opening Grand Slam.
“… I totally understand going onto the pitch with all this expectation that ‘Nick Kyrgios now has a legitimate chance of winning a Grand Slam,'” Kyrgios told Eurosport in an interview published on Thursday.
“There is a lot of pressure there, especially at the Australian Open and everyone in Australia who is expecting big things from me. It’s a lot to deal with sometimes. Being in the spotlight is not easy.
“I feel like I embraced that and took on that challenge. It’s not easy, I’ve worked really hard to channel it, internalize it and use it as fuel,” added Kyrgios, who competes in the Diriyah tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Australian Open 2023 will be held at Melbourne Park from January 16th to 29th.
