Nick Kyrgios reveals the very personal reason he’s staying off the court until Christmas – as he looks forward to epic clash with Rafael Nadal before the Australian Open
Nick Kyrgios revealed he has put his family before tennis as he explained his decision to take some time off until Christmas.
The 27-year-old will lead Australia into the inaugural United Cup later this year, with the Aussies drawn into a group containing Spain and Great Britain.
The $23million event, which begins on December 29, will be Kyrgios’ first tournament in over two months after he withdrew from the Japan Open with a knee injury in October.
Nick Kyrgios will not play in any tournament until the United Cup starts in late December
And the Aussie firebrand revealed he was looking forward to some more time off in the lead up to the festive season.
‘I’m not going to play any more [before Christmas],’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I don’t want to sacrifice time at home. If I play more I don’t have that time at home, especially with the way my mum is progressing, being here with my girlfriend at home in Sydney.
‘I don’t want to give up too much time on the road. Five or six months on the road is more than enough for me.’
The Australian revealed he wants to spend more time with his family and his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi (right) at home in Sydney instead of travel around the world
Kyrgios hasn’t played since withdrawing from the Japan Open early last month
And he could face 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal at the United Cup
Kyrgios could face Rafael Nadal in the United Cup, a mixed-gender event featuring round-robin matches in which each country plays two men’s and two women’s singles matches before a mixed doubles event.
The Australian and the 22-time Grand Slam winner were set to cross path in the semi-final at Wimbledon last year, only for Nadal to withdraw due to an abdominal injury, allowing Kyrgios a bye into the final.
Kyrgios is set to join world No24 Alex de Minaur and three-time Grand Final quarter-finalists Ajla Tomljanovic in the Australian squad for the United Cup.
The event consists of six groups of three teams each with games to be played across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The three winners from each city and a lucky loser will advance to the finals in Sydney, with the tournament set to end on January 8.
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