Australian Open 2023: Nick Kyrgios missed out on top 10 spot because of Wimbledon’s Russia ban

Losing the Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic was more than just defeat in his first grand slam singles final for Nick Kyrgios, it denied him a career high.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev can compete in 2023 but not under his flag

It’s NK 2.0.

So watch out, Australian summer of tennis, according to two top tennis officials who believe Nick Kyrgios has “a different outlook” on life and tennis in the lead-up to his 10th Australian Open.

Kyrgios, 27, has caught the eye of former Davis Cup captain Wally Masur for his mentoring of young Australian players since his move to Sydney with girlfriend Costeen Hatzipourganis, and in particular his move to turn attention to the next generation in the wake of his Australian Open doubles glory earlier this year.

“Nick has been living in Sydney ... two days later (after the Australian Open), he was on the court in Sydney with a young Australian player James Mccabe,” Masur said at the launch of the 2023 grand slam.

“It’s probably worth noting just how good Nick has been with the emerging players in Sydney of late.

“He spends time with them, he’s talking tennis with them, he’s encouraging them ... he is a really good mentor to a lot of these kids coming through.”

Masur, who oversaw Kyrgios in the 2015 Davis Cup campaign and himself made the Australian Open semi-finals in 1987, said he had noticed a change in the Canberran’s aspirations.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia

And he said he had the sense that the Wimbledon finalist wanted more.

“I said to Nick (in Sydney), ‘mate, well done, you’re a grand slam champion’,” Masur said.

“He sort of said sheepishly, ‘yeah, it’s only doubles’.

“I said ‘mate, you’re a grand slam champion’, and he kind of smiled.

“I think in a sense, winning that whet his appetite for more. Covid, and a separation for the tour, he was kind of realising what he’d missed.

“And boy, did he light it up at Wimbledon. I was really encouraged by not just the result, but the way he was playing.

“We saw all of his ability - the full repertoire was there.”

Tennis Australia chief executive and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley revealed he had spent time with Kyrgios in the wake of his Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic, where the 27-year-old had been the first Australian male to reach a Wimbledon final since 2003.

And he said it was an unfortunate circumstance that – due to after a call by the ATP and WTA in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – no rankings points had been awarded in his stellar run to the decider.

“I think it is a very unfortunate situation,” Tiley said on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t ideal, because the seedings and the rankings are going to be skewed because of the performances of players at Wimbledon.

“But I think that Nick has a different outlook on life. He’s enjoying travelling and enjoying competing, and he’s had an unbelievable year.

“He’d be top 10 if Wimbledon (had) counted.”

AUS OPEN ISSUES BAN ON RUSSIAN PLAYERS

Russian and Belarusian players will not be permitted to play under their country’s flags at this summer’s Australian Open.

Tournament director and Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley confirmed on Thursday that the ATP’s ruling that players compete as “neutral” players in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will extend to the first grand slam of 2023.

“At this point, Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible to play in the Australian Open, and they, like every other player, will have to go through the (entry) process,” Tiley said.

“The only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia — cannot represent the flag of Russia.

“They cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and they have to play as independent players under a neutral name.

“But they will be welcome to the Australian Open in January.”

The tournament has engaged external immigration experts to facilitate the entry process for visiting players and teams, of which some 8000 people are expected — more than double last year’s number.

The move to engage Absolute Immigration — an external third party that seeks to prepare and support clients in their visa entry process — also came about following a full review of last year’s event, which saw the Australian Open in the global spotlight amid nine-time champion Novak Djokovic’s deportation saga.

As part of the three-week Australian Open festivities, Tiley also revealed that there would be a conscious effort to raise money for the people of Ukraine at a number of events.

Tiley said there had been no pushback from players regarding the neutral status.

“Not at this point, no,” he said.

In announcing a raft of new additions to the upcoming Australian Open, tournament prizemoney was a notable omission from the tournament’s launch after a number of years of increases to the event’s bounty for players.

“We haven’t made that decision on prizemoney,” Tiley said.

“The dollar’s bouncing up and down, so that has an impact. But we’ll make that decision close to the event.

“We’re an event that believes in compensating the players, so I’ll leave you with that.”