Weight has been lifted for Kyrgios
TENNIS outcast Nick Kyrgios says he finally feels like he belongs at the highest level of the game and is ready to take the next step after striking out at his first grand slam final.
There’s an old saying in sport that you have to lose a final before you can win one and if that holds true, the wild-child of Australian tennis will get his chance next time after coming up shorthanded in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.
“I’ve got that under my belt now, a Wimbledon finalLUXEMBOURG’S ist. I can kind of draw from that experience,” he said.
“I felt like I belong. My game has always been there but I’ve just kind of put it together a little bit these couple of weeks.”
Often accused of wasting his talents, Kyrgios admitted that had he won Wimbledon, he might have been unsure about what to do next.
But the fact he came so close to winning his first grand slam and didn’t get there, has only fuelled his desire to up the ante next time.
“I feel like my fire’s been lit this whole year. I’ve obviously met a lot of amazing people this year who have just given me extra motivation,” he said.
“If I had won today, I would have struggled with motivation because I’ve been told my entire life winning Wimbledon is the ultimate achievement.
“I feel like if I had won that Grand Slam, I would have really struggled because I’d have achieved the greatest pinnacle in tennis.”
Kyrgios had never been past the quarter-finals of a grand slam before making the final this time and said he got caught up by the occasion, struggling with nerves and anxiety.
But the feisty right-hander says he’s also learnt a lot of valuable lessons that will help him if he gets another chance.
“My level is right there. 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,” he said.
“It takes a hell of an athlete mentally and physically to win one of these things. I think eight people have won this title since I’ve been born.
“Physically, it’s one thing, but mentally it’s another beast. I feel like I’ve committed a fair bit these two weeks. What more can I do, to be honest?
“I’ve stayed in most of the time. I’ve tried to just get good sleep, eat well. Not even have a beer here or there. I’ve really tried to commit.
“I just came up short. That’s all right, even though it sucks, of course it sucks.
“Playing Djokovic is a hard enough task as it is. To go out there, I feel like I lost this match, but I feel like there’s just a weight off my shoulders.
“I feel like there’s so much weight on my shoulders all the time when I step out on the tennis court, now it’s just released and I feel amazing.
“This is the best I’ve felt the last two weeks.”