Nick Kyrgios underlines Grand Slam ambitions: "Can win one"
Nick Kyrgios came very close to winning his first Grand Slam tournament twice in the 2022 season. If the Australian has his way, it can continue in this key in the coming seasons. With one difference: the man from Canberra also wants to pull off the big coup.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 03, 2022, 06:17 pm
Nick Kyrgios couldn't have had it much more difficult for his first Grand Slam final. Just facing Rafal Nadal in Paris and Novak Djokokvic in Melbourne in the final of a major event is probably an even greater challenge in current men's tennis than taking on the serial winner from Serbia in the Wimbledon final.
Ultimately, Kyrgios had to admit that without envy, after losing the opening set, Djokovic hardly allowed anything in the final duel with Kyrgios - and deservedly won the 21st title on the biggest stage in tennis. The surprising end in the US Open quarterfinals against Karen Khachanov was far more painful. With the absence of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal's early exit, the door seemed more open there than it had been for a long time.
Kyrgios full of confidence
"That defeat helped a little bit to increase my motivation. I thought I had a great chance at the US Open. It hurt, it hurt a lot because I thought I was the favorite for the title, after I beat Medvedev," explained Kyrgios in the run-up to Tokyo's ATP 500 event. "Now I have to wait until the next Australian Open, but I want to keep my form, the way I play, I want all of that to be there," said the Australian.
He's currently doing the right things, so he has no doubts: "I can win a Grand Slam," said Kyrgios, who believes he can win against any player in the world - especially since he has experienced the last five-set matches could make enormous profits. And in the last 18 months, the necessary professionalism has also been added: "In the last year and a half I have trained very, very hard. Grand Slams are what you are really remembered for, but you cannot think about one tournament that you will win it without effort." And it seems that Kyrgios is willing to make these efforts.