US Open: Why Nick Kyrgios is the participant to look at within the males’s draw at Flushing Meadows

Following his maiden Grand Slam remaining look there’s little doubt Nick Kyrgios has discovered a successful components which might see him grow to be the King of New York on the US Open.

This has been a yr wherein he has discovered a winning-formula and New York has confirmed a spot the place desires can come true – simply ask Emma Raducanu!

Not solely does Kyrgios possess an armoury of abilities – large serves, contact, tweeners and winners out of nowhere – however the firebrand Australian, who is understood for his unstable temperament- on courtroom, now has a brand new sense of belonging as a significant Grand Slam finalist, so what about his possibilities of going all the best way at Flushing Meadows?

“I just feel like I’m really clear on what my game is, and I know how other people are trying to play,” stated Kyrgios.

“That’s the key to it. I feel like me not having a coach has worked. I think the last six months, I don’t think many people have achieved that without a coach before, and I feel like that’s just something that comes with confidence and knowing your game.”

Kyrgios seems decided to keep away from any loopy outbursts on courtroom and has re-invented himself as a cool, calm and picked up particular person who has earned an outright seeding for the ultimate Grand Slam. He has been as little as No 137 this yr proving what an unimaginable turnaround it has been for him.

Kyrgios started 2022 exhibiting little urge for food for what was to come back. He was unable to bother Daniil Medvedev on the Australian Open, though it was a really totally different story within the males’s doubles the place it turned a “dream come true” to win the title alongside his long-time pal Thanasi Kokkinakis.

His singles kind quickly picked up throughout the ‘Sunshine Double’ the place he reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells earlier than making a last-16 look in Miami.

Kyrgios went on to make the semi-finals in Houston, Stuttgart and Halle earlier than reaching the Wimbledon remaining the place he misplaced out to Novak Djokovic in 4 units. His shock run was plagued by controversy, that includes run-ins with umpires, line judges, the media and even spectators.

His distinctive kind got here amid the 27-year-old being charged with frequent assault over an alleged incident in January 2021 involving his former companion Chiara Passari. The matter has been adjourned till October 4.

He can also be dealing with a separate authorized case for defamation from a spectator who the Australian accused of getting “about 700 drinks” throughout the remaining on the All England Club.

I’ve been in some actually darkish locations. Just to have the ability to flip it round. There are so many individuals who’ve helped me get there, however myself, I’ve proven some severe energy to only proceed and persevere and get by all these occasions and be capable to nonetheless carry out and win tournaments

Despite his trials and tribulations, Kyrgios believes his “level is right there” having given Djokovic a stern take a look at.

“I feel like you look at what Novak has done to some other opponents, it’s not a good feeling. But I’m right there,” he stated.

“I’m not behind the eight ball at all. I played a Slam final against one of the greatest of all time, and I was right there.

“[I will take] confidence. I believed I handled the stress fairly effectively.”

His run on the lawns in London also further signified the belief that he is moving in the right direction.

“I really feel like my fireplace’s been lit this entire yr. I’ve clearly met quite a lot of wonderful individuals this yr who’ve simply given me additional motivation,” he said.

“To discover those who have my again, that I simply love being round, and so they simply need to push me to be a greater particular person and to be a greater tennis participant. They realise that I’m immensely proficient and really feel [I have] much more to do on this sport.”

The ‘Special Ks’ Thanasi Kokkinakis and Kyrgios were back to do some more damage in the men’s doubles at the Atlanta Open and extend their record to 13-2 in 2022.

Kyrgios then made a little bit of history by becoming the first person to win the Citi Open men’s singles and doubles titles in the same year.

It was a triumphant return for the Australian to the US capital as he defeated Japanese opponent Yoshihito Nishioka in the singles final and a short time later he was back on Stadium Court at Rock Creek Park Tennis Centre to help American Jack Sock win the doubles.

In singles, the 27-year-old dropped only one set in 5 matches, by no means had his serve damaged and led the match with 96 aces, together with 12 in opposition to Nishioka.

“It’s just very emotional for me,” Kyrgios stated. “To see where I was at last year to now, it’s just an incredible transformation.

“I’ve been in some actually darkish locations. Just to have the ability to flip it round. There are so many individuals who’ve helped me get there, however myself, I’ve proven some severe energy to only proceed and persevere and get by all these occasions and be capable to nonetheless carry out and win tournaments like this one.”

His nine-match successful streak finally got here to an finish within the National Bank Open quarter-finals in Montreal when Pole Hubert Hurkacz blasted his method to victory.

Kyrgios shrugged off the top of his successful streak, saying in his regular blunt vogue that he couldn’t care much less and was extra concerned with getting residence after the US Open to see his mom and father, who usually are not effectively.

“I honestly don’t care,” stated the Australian. “I’ve been away from home, away from my mum, away from my dad.

“They’re not very effectively in the mean time. So I do not actually care about ‘no successful streak’. I’ve bought two extra tournaments left earlier than I can go residence,” he said, referring to Cincinnati and the US Open.

Kyrgios’ change in mindset was evident in Cincy after bowing out to Taylor Fritz in 51 minutes, condemning the Australian to his second defeat since losing to Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

But now attention quickly turns to the US Open where Kyrgios will hope to get his body and mind back in tip-top condition for what he hopes will be another memorable fortnight.

His record in the Big Apple is nothing to write home about having never been beyond the last 32. He has an 8-8 win-loss record. However, with everyone talking about Kyrgios for the right and wrong reasons, there’s no time like the present for the Aussie to finally prove to the world that he belongs at the top of men’s tennis.

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