Kyrgios : “I know how stressful Australian Open is for me…”

The Australian will be the big home favourite after turning in his most successful season on the tour in 2022

Nick Kyrgios at the 2022 Australian Open Image Credit: AI/ Reuters/ Panoramic

December 25, 2022

While many players look forward to competing in their home events, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios is not looking forward too much to his home Grand Slam – the Australian Open – because he is expecting a stressful fortnight.

After playing the best tennis of his career in 2022, Kyrgios has gone from tennis has-been to Grand Slam contender. With his busy schedule on the road away from home and the demands on him after he had turned it around, Kyrgios says he is looking forward to after the Australian Open and does not plan to play any events till Indian Wells in March.

“Probably not,” Kyrgios told Eurosport when asked if he has it in him to find a way to be refreshed for the Australian Open. “I’m kind of gearing for an exhausting couple of weeks to be honest. But I’ve just got to internalise it and just think to myself it’s just another tournament. Obviously, it’s a lot more than just a tournament for a lot of other people around me. For me, I’m the one playing, so I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I’m only human at the end of the day, so I can’t deal with too much. I’ve got about three weeks from now until then to just get my body right, get my game right and feel good about it.”

“There is a little bit of excitement but it’s probably 95 per cent stress, 5 per cent excitement to be honest.” – Kyrgios

Kyrgios explained that being in the spotlight, which will intensify for him during the Australian Open fortnight, is stressful for him and he is looking forward to the tournament being over.

“I know I’ve got about a month and a half after that where I’m going to be at home before Indian Wells; I’m not going to play anything after that. That’s really what I’m looking forward to,” Kyrgios said. “I’m not even looking forward to before AO, I’m just looking to after it, I kind of want it to be over. Because I know how stressful it is for me personally to be in the spotlight. Just everything, even my days off are stressful. I’ll probably play doubles. I’m really waiting for it all to be over. There is a little bit of excitement but it’s probably 95 per cent stress, 5 per cent excitement to be honest.”