Kyrgios a real possibility to beat Nadal

NICK Kyrgios can beat Rafael Nadal at this Australian Open.

He just has to get there. Thursday night’s draw – as it always does – threw up a tricky path full of snakes and ladders for just about every player.

If Nick gets through his first couple, he’ll meet Karen Khachanov in the third round, which is tough. He’s part of this new Russian brigade coming through – Daniil

SAM GROTH

Medvedev, Andrey Rublev. If the Nick that shows up is the one we’ve seen so far in the summer, he should breeze through and then Khachanov will be his first real test.

I think Rafael Nadal will walk through the first week.

Obviously it’s the matchup with either Khachanov or Nick that could be his undoing.

You talk about the type of game style that troubles Nadal, and it’s the guys that give him no rhythm, serve big, that’s the sort of matchup.

Nick believes he can beat him, and so do I.

Whether he can beat him over five sets at a slam is different, but Nadal is going to be tight. They have walked such different paths to be here – one is meticulous in his training and the other speaks of his hatred for practising.

They couldn’t be more opposite – both great players, but polar opposites.

Kyrgios took on Federer in Wednesday night’s Rally for Relief, and the Swiss master just didn’t quite look himself.

He’s had no real match play heading into the Australian Open, but that could count for little given his experience and record.

But anytime you do that, the sharpness you get from playing is at risk.

You’d be so silly to write him off, but early in the tournament is where he’s going to be vulnerable.

If he’s going to win a 21st grand slam here, he can’t afford to get into dogfights early, either.