Nick Kyrgios believes Alex de Minaur can win a grand slam title ahead of Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios still believes he can beat anyone, but he’s just as bullish about fellow Australian Alex de Minaur who he believes can win a grand slam title.

Nick Kyrgios still believes he can beat anyone but he’s just as bullish about his Aussie teammate Alex de Minaur winning a grand slam title.

As he brushed off concerns about a minor abdominal strain which had reared itself in recent days, the former Wimbledon finalist put on his elder statesman hat and declared Australia’s men’s tennis was on the cusp of a golden era.

Kyrgios then recalled the moment he knew De Minaur was something out of the box when he was an orange boy for the Davis Cup team.

“I remember he was our orange boy at Davis Cup, we’d won the tie and he needed to have some extra practice so I was like, ‘I’ll go out there and teach this little kid a lesson’,” Kyrgios said.

“I brought a beer out there, I remember and I was like, ‘This guy can’t be that good’. But it was a really close set. I was in my prime and he was only 17 and I was like, ‘This guy is going to be really solid’.

“To see how well he’s kind of taken it upon himself to be our No.1 player for the last three, four years. He’s grown. To deal with everything, the pressure of being our No.1 player, I was there and I didn’t always deal with it the best.

Nick Kyrgios has sung the praises of fellow Aussie Alex de Minaur. Picture: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images/AFP

“He’s been a ridiculously good role model. I genuinely think he’s a threat at any grand slam and any tournament he plays. He’s made quarterfinals of I think every slam but AO. (Australian Open).

“He’s got a chance to win a Slam, for sure. I think he does everything right. He’s improved little things in his game where I thought he needed to improve. He’s done that.”

Kyrgios, 29, also praised the development of Alexei Popyrin (No.25) and Jordan Thompson (No.27) who are both seeded for the first time at this year’s Open.

“I mean, men’s tennis in Australia right now is ridiculously strong. We have a lot of players, It’s very deep,” he said. “Obviously Pop (Popyrin) is dangerous whenever he’s feeling good with that serve and winning the Masters event (Canadian Open).

Nick Kyrgios believes men’s tennis is in a great spot in Australia. Picture: Adrian Dennis / AFP

“I’m super happy for these guys because they put in all the hard work. I’ve known Thommo since basically he was in diapers. Just to see how well he’s transitioning and finally got into that seeding at a grand slam where it can really open up for him … he’s more than capable of doing some damage as well.

“All these Aussie guys are really good. We have a good crop of young guys coming through as well so it’s a good time to be an Australian tennis fan.”

Kyrgios said he felt like he was “back at home” playing in his first grand slam tournament since 2022, adding that the sport needed him fit and firing.

“There’s so many good players on the tour now but I think there’s not so many contrasting personalities,” he said.

“I think it’s healthy that I’m back and I’m playing. It doesn’t really weigh on me, though, as I’ve always been someone that’s played my brand of tennis and I guess my personality – I haven’t changed since I was 10 years old – anyone that knows me knows that I’ve been just how I am now.

“I think it’s good to be back. I think it’s important as I think the sport was getting a bit mundane.

Nick Kyrgios says tennis was getting “a bit mundane”. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’ve beaten pretty much everyone that the sport has put in front of me before. I’m always going to back my ability.

“People are always going to say, ‘Be realistic, you’re not going to be the same’. I unfortunately don’t have that mindset. I always have utmost confidence in my ability, if I’m playing my style of tennis, my unpredictability, I have a chance against anyone.”

Kyrgios faces Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the first-round on Monday with No.28 seed Sebastian Baez and subsequently No.2 Alexander Zverev in his path should he push past the first round.

On Fearnley, he said: “He’s obviously been in pretty good form. He made things pretty challenging for Novak (Djokovic) at Wimbledon, anyone who can do that on such a big stage has that X factor there.

“I know he’s going to be willing to embrace that challenge against me in Australia. It’s going to be good.”