Lleyton Hewitt says Nick Kyrgios’ break from tennis could prove the right call in the long term

Nick Kyrgios didn’t hit a ball for five months during the COVID-19 pandemic. So what can fans realistically expect from him at the Open?

Nick Kyrgios training at Melbourne Park. Picture: Michael Klein

Lleyton Hewitt believes Nick Kyrgios’ self-imposed break from tennis last year during the COVID-19 pandemic could prove a blessing in disguise.

Kyrgios chose not to travel overseas and revealed on Saturday he didn’t hit a ball for five months at one stage – but he didn’t miss it.

However, Hewitt, who is serving as Australia’s ATP Cup captain, told reporters it was important for Kyrgios to get some matches in at this week’s Murray River Open to bolster his Australian Open chances.

“I think, as a whole, him having a bit of a break away from the sport – where he’s positioned, for his body and mind – is a good thing,” Hewitt said.

“Because he hasn’t played a match for so long, though, it’s not going to be easy for him just to come out and switch it on, either.

Lleyton Hewitt discusses tactics with Nick Kyrgios at last year’s ATP Cup. Picture: Craig Golding/AAP Image

“It’s important for him to get some of those nerves out of the way this week, so come the Australian Open in a bit over a week’s time, he’s ready to go.

“Trying to just switch it on for five-set tennis, when you haven’t played for nearly a year, isn’t going to be easy. (But) he’s hitting the ball well enough to push deep in the Australian Open, for sure.”

Hewitt’s Australian squad for the country-based event is Alex de Minaur, John Millman, John Peers and Luke Saville, with Spain and Greece awaiting them on Tuesday and Wednesday night, respectively.

De Minaur, who will face Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas as Australia’s No.1 player, has joined the team since emerging from quarantine, after starting the season by winning the Antalya title.

“One of the biggest things we’ve all learned with this (coronavirus) situation is it’s all about adapting,” de Minaur said.

John Millman’s been training hard ahead of the ATP Cup. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“We’ve all had different kind of preparations for this tournament, but I’m sure that come that first ball, we’re all going to be raring to go and ready to put on the green and gold and represent our country.”

Millman told the Herald Sun he expected this year to be one of the most challenging ever for Australian tennis players, who face the prospect of being overseas for the rest of the season.

Hewitt echoed those sentiments, saying wasting a fortnight in quarantine for the chance to have a brief break in Australia wasn’t an ideal situation.

“It’s the most brutal sport there is with the position that the tour is in as an individual sport on a global stage, where you’re playing in different countries,” Hewitt said.

“The quarantine procedures in every single country are so different as well. It makes it really hard for these guys.

“There’s a lot of outside-the-box thinking that has to go into being an Australian tennis player right now. But these guys (are) willing to do the hard yards and make sacrifices for that.”

KYRGIOS DIDN’T TOUCH RACQUET ‘FOR A MONTH’

– Scott Gullan

Nick Kyrgios has revealed he struggled to return to tennis after enjoying life in lockdown with his family in Canberra.

Australia’s controversial star didn’t pick up a racquet for five months and admitted he didn’t miss the grind of the tennis tour.

“I actually didn’t touch a tennis racquet for the first four or five months of quarantine,” Kyrgios said.

“I just wanted to get completely away from it and it was actually tough to start getting back into it.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really miss the game that much.

“I’m a competitor but I compete with everything that I do so I wasn’t really missing that, I was playing computer games and all that type of stuff and getting my little competitive edge there.

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Kyrgios says he didn’t miss tennis during the lockdown. Picture: Michael Klein

“But I didn’t really miss the game at all so it was a bit of a task to get back out there and get in the routine of things and actually wake up and say ‘Look, we’ve got the Australian Open around the corner so let’s put some work in’. It wasn’t so easy.

“Over my time off I wasn’t thinking about tennis at all. I was going through a couple of off-court things, my mum is not so healthy.

“I was focusing on things that actually matter to me personally, tennis for me is not my top priority and I have never been a heavy goal setter.”

Despite his early struggles in lockdown Kyrgios admitted he was now in a good place and ready to make an impact at the Australian Open where he made it through to the fourth round last year.

Over the past month he has trained with fellow Australian Jordan Thompson in Canberra which has lifted his confidence after some niggling injuries midway through the year.

“I feel mentally completely refreshed and ready to go again,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to have Jordan Thompson come down to Canberra over the last month and we trained together.

“I have been hitting two hours every day for the last couple of months, that’s plenty in my opinion so we’ll see how we go

“I feel like I am playing well and I’m ready to go but everyone is playing it by ear, no-one really knows who’s in form and who’s not so I’m just going to play it day-by-day and just try and enjoy myself as much as I can.”

Kyrgios hitting at Melbourne Park ahead of his lead up event. Picture:

Kyrgios, 25, said he wasn’t disappointed to miss out on a spot in the ATP Cup, the event in which he starred at last year and used as a springboard into the Open.

The two highest ranked players from each country qualify and for Australia that is Alex de Minaur and John Millman because Kyrgios’ 11-month absence from the tour saw his ranking slip to No. 47.

“I’m not disappointed at all,” Kyrgios said. “I’m not a jealous or envious person, I’m happy for then and while it was nice being around the guys and the team environment I’m not stressing about it.”

Instead Kyrgios will start his Open preparation in a smaller ATP event, The Murray River Open, at Melbourne Park on Monday.

His opening round opponent is Frenchman Alexandre Muller with the mouth-watering prospect of a second round clash with fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic.

Originally published as Lleyton Hewitt says Nick Kyrgios’ break from tennis could prove the right call in the long term