Australian Open: Great expectations for retooled Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios appears in a relaxed mood ahead of his tilt at the Australian Open which starts later today.

Nick Kyrgios in a practice session at Melbourne Park ahead of the Open. Picture: Tim Carrafa.

Nick Kyrgios appeared in a relaxed mood as he assessed his Australian Open hopes, beginning later today with a clash against Rogerio Dutra Silva.

Then his face turned to stone. Surely a question about his much-publicised foundation had not earned his ire?

Instead this proved a tell, an indication Kyrgios is feeling comfortable. The Australian was feigning angst, jesting with journalists, keeping the fourth estate on its toes.

The nation’s best hope since Lleyton Hewitt of becoming the first Australian since Mark Edmondson in 1976 to win the home grand slam seems carefree despite the burden of expectation.

That Ash Barty, Alex De Minaur and Daria Gavrilova have enjoyed strong starts to the season means the spotlight is shared.

Also buoying his mood is the fitness of his partner Ajla Tomljanovic, who has overcome a serious shoulder problem and will play tomorrow.

“I’m excited. I think Australian tennis is in pretty good hands at the moment,” Kyrgios said.

“(We’ve) got a good bunch of boys and a good bunch of girls that can make an impact on the tournament.”

Success in the Brisbane International, which is his first title on home soil and fourth overall, demonstrates Kyrgios is in good form.

Commentary following that victory, from peers, former players and pundits alike, lauded his growing maturity.

There is a caveat, of course, for this refrain about Kyrgios has been offered before, only for the enigma to self-destruct, sometimes in particularly ugly fashion.

It is only three months since he imploded at the Shanghai Masters just two days after reaching the final of the China Open against Rafael Nadal.

Hence the need to tread carefully before placing complete trust in the Canberran, but former star Jelena Dokic is among those who believe the penny has dropped.

“When you are playing at home, there is a lot of pressure … but I think what he did well, what will really help him, is the fact he won Brisbane,” Dokic told The Australian. “It will give him confidence, but with that whole expectation, he showed he can play here and win here.

“I think he has really improved physically and mentally in the last 12 months. He is a lot more mature and stronger.

“He is different to a Federer, Nadal. He is never going to be like those two and that is fine, but he is learning, he is maturing as he is getting older and I think we should give him a chance, get behind him.”

Kyrgios was a disappointment at grand slam level in 2017. He conceded this point after a loss to compatriot John Millman in New York, describing the season as a debacle.

But the bizarre blip in Shanghai and the US Open dip aside, his form from mid-August has been largely consistent and strong.

The right-hander made his first Masters level final in Cincinnati, knocking off Nadal en route to the decider, and played superbly in a Davis Cup semi-final and at the Laver Cup prior to his run in Beijing. And his form in Brisbane improved throughout the week after an injury scare early against Matt Ebden.

According to Tennis Australia’s Game Insight Group headed by Dr Machar Reid, the 22-year-old performed well above his overall career metrics in Queensland.

It noted Kyrgios hit more forehands than usual throughout his run to the title, an indication that his movement has improved sharply, which is important given that wing is a weapon.

“The previous issues that Nick has had around his fitness and his body holding up seem to have been alleviated, with his workrate per shot and per point up by 31.5 per cent and 34 per cent respectively,” Reid said.

“This also ties in with him hitting more forehands, suggesting he is working harder overall to find his forehand to finish the point.”

The statistical analysis confirms Dokic’s feel as to the athleticism shown by Kyrgios.

“I like what he has done physically. He is moving very well for a big guy, a tall guy,” she said. “There are so many other things as well. He can do anything.”

In a separate analysis assessing grand slam winners dating back to 1990 to predict the players most ready for a major breakthrough, the group believes Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem, David Goffin and Jack Sock are the most likely to etch their name onto a grand slam trophy.

But critical to Kyrgios’s chances this fortnight are his serve and return, according to Australian Open analyst Craig O’Shannessy.

While Kyrgios is scarcely a poker face when it comes to masking his emotions, his greatest strength lies in the disguise of his serve.

“He is the sixth best server in our sport in the last 25 years,” O’Shannessy said.

“I did an analysis of him earlier in the year and he is virtually impossible to read. The toss goes up and there is no tell with his serve, which makes him deadly there.

“His second serve has so much variety in speed and you will see the range on consecutive second serves and it drives opponents mad. They don’t know where it is going and they can’t get any rhythm from it.

“That is a big thing. He is so unpredictable, which is more dangerous than someone who is going to go to the same spot every time.”

But the Austin-based Australian, who is a consultant to Novak Djokovic, would like to see Kyrgios become more aggressive on return, particularly off the backhand wing.

“It is not about holding more. He is holding serve enough. The serve is good. It is doing its job. He needs to break more,” O’Shannessy said. “He bunts the return and I think Nick lets too many guys off the hook. I’d like to see him go faster, get it back quicker … and make his opponent uncomfortable.”