Tennis legend backs Nick Kyrgios to thrive in new team tournament Down Under despite the controversial star admitting he’s prepared for ’95 per cent stress, five per cent excitement’ ahead of Australian Open
- Aussie great Sam Stosur believes Nick Kyrgios will thrive in the new United Cup
- The United Cup is a mixed gender team competition that starts on Thursday
- Kyrgios says he’s exhausted and ’95 per cent stress, five per cent excitement’
Aussie tennis great Sam Stosur believes Nick Kyrgios will thrive in the team environment of the United Cup, despite the the controversial star admitting he’s exhausted after 2022.
Kyrgios, 27, soon arrives back Down Under to lead the local contingent at the inaugural mixed gender United Cup, despite not playing in his nation’s recent appearance in the Davis Cup.
Aussie tennis great Sam Stosur believes Nick Kyrgios (pictured) will thrive in the team environment of the United Cup, despite the the controversial star admitting he’s exhausted after 2022
Stosur (pictured with the US Open trophy) believes the team competition at the United Cup will suit Kyrgios
‘I think it’s no secret Nick loves being in a team and a team competition,’ Stosur told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I’m sure this is going to be right up his alley, being an Australian team in Australia at the start of the year. He’ll be keen and ready to go.
‘He’s our highest-ranked player in the country, and I’m certainly looking forward to watching him play. To be honest, I haven’t been on the sideline watching Nick in a live match.
‘I do find his tennis really entertaining, and he’s an amazing player. To be right there this week is going to be lots of fun.
‘It’s the United Cup, a united team. When the team’s out there playing, we certainly expect everyone to be out there supporting each other and doing the best they can from the sidelines as well as on the court.’
Kyrgios (pictured) is coming off his most successful season, where he made the final of Wimbledon and finished the season as Australia’s highest rank singles and doubles player
Kyrgios is coming off the most successful season of his career, where he made the final of Wimbledon and finished the season as Australia’s highest rank singles and doubles player.
He admits that he’s finding life very tiring at the moment and he’s thought seriously about retiring if he wins a grand slam.
‘I’m exhausted honestly,’ he told Eurosport. ‘Just stressful. The more you win, the more success you have, the more demands you have off the court.
‘People expect more from you. It’s been a stressful year, that’s for sure.’
The self-styled bad boy of tennis (pictured with partner Costeen Hatzi) will be considered a genuine title contender for the first time in his career at the Australian Open – and could be the first local male champion since Mark Edmondson in 1976
Kyrgios says he’s gearing up for an exhausting couple of weeks ahead of the Australian Open
The so-called bad boy of tennis will be considered a genuine title contender for the first time in his career at the Australian Open – and could be the first local male champion since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
‘I’m kind of gearing for an exhausting couple of weeks to be honest. But I’ve just got to internalize 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,’ said Kyrgios.
‘For me, I’m the one playing, so I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.
‘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 is set to take to the court at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney to take on Cameron Norrie on December 29 to kick of Australia’s United Cup campaign.
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