Nick Kyrgios says finally playing in Australia will bring out his best

Nick Kyrgios hasn’t played at home since last year’s Australian Open and is adamant it brings out his best.

Nick Kyrgios is primed for the home summer. Picture: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

The “long grind” of playing around the world only brings Nick Kyrgios home for the summer and that’s enough for the Australian No.1 to bring his best stuff.

Having sat out Davis Cup for the past three years, amid repeated requests to join captain Lleyton Hewitt’s squad, Kyrgios is representing Australia for the first time since the now-defunct ATP Cup in 2020 when he hits Sydney for the inaugural United Cup.

It will be the world No.22’s first event in Australia since taking out the doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open in January after making a singles exit in the second round.

Kyrgios will join an Aussie squad including Alex de Minaur, Jason Kubler, Maddison Inglis, Zoe Hives and doubles aces John Peers and Australia’s playing co-captain Samantha Stosur.

The mixed doubles component of the competition, with Australia to play pool matches against Great Britain and Spain in Sydney from December 29, could also reunite him with former flame and Aussie women’s No.1 Ajla Tomljanovic.

Nick Kyrgios could reunite with Ajla Tomljanovic. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

Backing up his feats at Wimbledon, where he made the final, at the Australia Open remains the ultimate goal for Kyrgios, and after a long year on the road, being at home in front of family and friends is all the motivation he needs to play his best tennis.

“There’s nothing better, to play the Australian summer, it’s my favourite time. There’s nothing I love more,” he said.

“To be honest, I haven’t really played well in Sydney, but I’m hoping to change that narrative at the start of the year.

“Just playing in Australia is special. The tour is a long grind and it’s rarely in Australia, so I’m definitely not going to take it for granted.”

Kyrgios was one of the biggest names to sign on for the United Cup where a showdown with 22-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal looms as a genuine blockbuster of the event.

But he’ll also make a rare return to mixed doubles which Kyrgios said was a “special” opportunity for everyone involved.

“I don‘t play so much mixed doubles anymore but what I love about mixed doubles is, it’s for the fans. That’s the most important thing,” Kyrgios said on Sunday.

“Seeing some of the best females in the world playing with the best males, it definitely provides some really good entertainment; how the male kind of lets the female do her thing on the court and not get in the way.

“It‘s just a great event to have, an event where females and males come together as one to represent their nation.

“That‘s extremely important. And for the fans. To have all the best athletes from around the world together, I think it’s a very special event.”

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios says finally playing in Australia will bring out his best