Kyrios in top nick for US Open tilt
NICK Kyrgios is big in the Big Apple and Australia’s great hope is making no secret of his big US Open intentions either.
“People should know me well enough now to know I don’t put a limit on what I’m doing or set a specific target or goal,” Kyrgios said before tomorrow’s clash with Slovenian-born British No.2 Aljaz Bedene.
“I’m going in confident, hungry and ready for a good, deep run.”
The two-time grand slam quarter-finalist has arrived with a career-high world ranking of 16 following a two-title haul in 2016, including success on American hard courts in Atlanta this month.
And unlike last year, when he arrived in New York to widespread condemnation after his infamous sledging of Stan Wawrinka, he is feeling comfortable again.
Feted in a 5000-word feature article in the New York Times magazine, which had a portrait of the 21-year-old on the cover under the headline The Electric, Infuriating Nick Kyrgios, it dubbed him the most entertaining player tennis has seen since John McEnroe.
“And quite possibly the most gifted since Roger Federer,” it said.
Author Michael Steinberger also quoted the temperamental talent as claiming he only planned on playing tennis until 27.
“That’s the absolute max,” he reportedly said.
Kyrgios is adamant he is ready to break through in New York, on a surface he feels is tailor-made to his explosive game.
“I had a good session on the new Grandstand (court) with Jack Sock and the court was pretty high-bouncing but fast, if that makes sense,” he said.
“It’s great conditions for holding serve, which is going to make me tough to beat.”
Kyrgios is among six Australians in first-round action on day two.
Bernard Tomic, seeded 17th, plays Damir Dzumhur, while John Millman, fresh off his run to the semi-finals in Winston-Halem, takes on eighth seed Dominic Thiem.
Leading the women’s charge, former champion and 16th seed Samantha Stosur faces Camila Giorgi first up.
Daria Gavrilova meets Lucie Safarova and rookie wildcard playoff winner Ellen Perez makes her grand slam debut against surprise Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shaui.