Newk tips fired up Kyrgios

John Newcombe predicts Nick Kyrgios will produce a big effort in round one, with the possibility of a Rafael Nadal showdown.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios. Picture: AFP

Former world No 1 John Newcombe predicts Nick Kyrgios will produce maximum effort against Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon, with the possibility of a tilt at Rafael Nadal looming.

Thompson, who is on a hot form streak, and Kyrgios have never officially clashed.

The reward for a first-round victory, apart from prizemoney and rankings points, is a likely meeting with world No 2 Nadal.

Given the chequered past between Nadal and Kyrgios, who share a 3-3 head-to-head rivalry, Newcombe expects Kyrgios to pull out all stops against Thompson.

“I would imagine that he (Kyrgios) would see that draw, he would bust his guts to beat Jordan because he fancies himself against Rafa, especially on grass,” Newcombe said. “It could be an interesting match after all the talk.

“He seems to play his best tennis when he’s got nothing to lose.”

Nadal and Kyrgios have been at odds since the Australian’s victory in Acapulco in March.

Nadal had the match in his keeping, only to be overrun by a rampant Kyrgios, who mixed raw power with underarmed serves to rattle the Spaniard. Nadal made his feelings clear with a brusque post-match handshake before questioning Kyrgios’s approach.

Kyrgios returned fire, describing Nadal as “super salty”, while calling his uncle Toni an “idiot”.

Nadal and Kyrgios famously clashed on Wimbledon’s centre court in 2014, when a teenage Kyrgios rolled the world No 1.

Newcombe believes Kyrgios’s career is still at the crossroads.

“He’s been at one for a few years,” Newcombe said. “He got his ranking to No 13, that was a couple of years ago, and now he’s No 43.

“It kinda speaks for itself. He’s 24, he should be reaching his peak.

“You don’t know. You wouldn’t know what was gonna happen.

“It’s anyone’s guess.”

Aware of Kyrgios and Nadal’s history, Thompson said he would “do whatever I can to stop it (another rematch) happening”.

“It’s always difficult playing a fellow Aussie. His serve is unreadable, but I’m going to go out there and do my best,” he said.

Nadal starts against Japanese qualifier Yuichi Sugita.

Kyrgios, Thompson, Bernard Tomic, Alex de Minaur, Matt Ebden and John Millman start their campaigns tomorrow.

Alexei Popyrin is the sole Australian male in action today.

Herald Sun