Nick Kyrgios says no one will understand pressure he faces in home grand slam

Nick Kyrgios has opened up on the pressure he faces coming into his home slam. He also provides an update on his injury and his looming practice match with Novak Djokovic.

Nick Kyrgios. Picture: Michael Klein

Nick Kyrgios says no one will ever understand the pressure he feels heading into his home grand slam.

The Australian star, who remains in Canberra as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury, has confidence he will be ready to fire come next Monday’s Australian Open, acknowledging a key element to success will be being mentally primed.

But as he prepares to head into the first grand slam of the year in uncharted territory – as both a Wimbledon finalist and reigning doubles champion with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis – the 27-year-old said his 2022 campaign had added tools he would draw on amid the intensity of the home slam.

“People will never understand the pressure I face during this period of the year,” Kyrgios told News Corp on Friday.

“It’s hard to always navigate.

“I worked on a few things last year during Wimbledon and the US Open and will try to replicate the same things here in Australia.”

Nick Kyrgios says the pressure is difficult to navigate. Picture: Michael Klein

Australia’s top-ranked player, Kyrgios’ best singles result at Melbourne Park was a quarter-final berth in 2015. He made the second round at last year’s event.

Kyrgios will stay in Canberra until Thursday as he continues training and increasing the load on his ankle after sustaining the injury in December.

“My ankle is definitely feeling better,” he said.

“It has been around two weeks now so it’s all going well. It is obviously tough working through any injury, big or small.

“I was training and doing drills, so I was still getting in work (in recent weeks).

“I have confidence in my team, and we are doing all the right things to be there (at Melbourne Park).”

The world No. 22 will have no competitive matches leading into the Australian Open after withdrawing from both the United Cup and Adelaide International – not that it worries him.

“Last year was tough for me also,” he said.

“I had no lead-in tournaments because I had Covid the week before. If I am feeling good mentally, I know I can go out there and play good tennis, so I just focus on that and take things day by day.”

Kyrgios has a standing invitation to feature at next week’s Kooyong Classic, with 21-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic also open to a match against the Australian in the days before the major.

The pair have not always seen eye-to-eye – particularly surrounding Covid – but Kyrgios said they had grown closer in what could become “a cool relationship”.

“We have had our differences in the past,” Kyrgios said.

“Last year (when Djokovic was refused entry to Australia amid a vaccination stoush) was hard to see. In my eyes, he wasn’t treated fairly, so I spoke my mind.

“At the end of the day, we are all human and doing our best.

“For sure I think we have a start of what could be a cool relationship. I am all for an (exhibition match) with Novak. I think it will be fun, draw a crowd and set a good tone for the AO.

“So let’s just see what happens. It’s a busy time of year.”

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios says no one will understand pressure he faces in home grand slam