Nick Kyrgios reveals he was in a bad place last year before seeing psychologists to help mental state

Nick Kyrgios has revealed why he engaged psychologists last year to help with his mental health and dealing with life on the tennis tour, a move that now has him in a much better frame of mind to attack the Australian Open and 2019.

Nick Kyrgios says he was “in some really bad places” mentally last year.

Regardless of the outcome of a first-round Australian Open blockbuster with Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios is confident he is on the path to mental happiness — and elevation into the sport’s top-10.

The mercurial Canberran believes he is much healthier — physically and mentally — after taking a decent break to rest while working with psychologists to better cope with pressure.

“I really don’t want to touch too much on it, pretty personal stuff that happened last year,” he said.

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“I was in some really bad places. Right now I feel like I’m in a good spot mentally.

“People are going to think, ‘You drew Raonic, it’s a bad draw.’ I don’t really care.

“I’m healthy, happy, go out there and compete. Whatever happens, happens.”

Unseeded at a grand slam for the first time in four seasons, Kyrgios remains an untapped talent but, after the upheavals and ranking slide of 2018, he has new-found perspective.

Nick Kyrgios says he was “in some really bad places” mentally last year.

“Realistically one day it’s going to end for me, this sport,” he said.

“We saw Andy Murray, legend of the game, he’s not going to play any more.

“I take those things for granted how much I’m going to play grand slams.

“I’m just going to enjoy the moment. I’m not going to worry about anything. If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose.

“Literally, I want to be waking up, be excited to go on court. Last year I was not in that mind frame.”

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Ranked No 13 in October 2016, Kyrgios is now at No 51 in the standings.

With good health, he is confident to breaking into the top-10.

“Well, there’s a lot of things that have to go right. Obviously health is a big one,” he said.

“Playing events, I’ve never really been the type of person to play a lot of events.

“Always probably been one of the people who plays the least events out of the top 100.

“If I get right physically and mentally, I play the events, do well, I think I was (No) 13 the year where I played I think 18 events, I was 13.

Kyrgios is now happy and ready for the Australian Open.

“I didn’t even play any of the European swing. Realistically I could be top 10. That’s a fact.

“I haven’t been there yet. Right now I’m not even thinking about that. I want to just enjoy my time in Australia, the Aussie summer. I want to play good tennis and be happy. That’s the main thing.”

Kyrgios will play Wimbledon finalist Raonic on Tuesday, having won three of the pair’s six clashes.

Both men are huge servers, also equipped with devastating power off the ground.

“Obviously Milos is a tough player,” he said.

“We’ve played each other a couple times at grand slams. We’ve played each other at Masters events, tour events.

“We both know each other’s games fairly well. We know what’s coming.

“I’m very excited just to be out here in the Aussie summer in front of the home crowd, to play a tough opponent.

“I can see it as a good thing. I have to be locked in from the get-go.”