Nick’s pumped to get back in game
NICK Kyrgios is preparing to host a number of Australian stars as part of a month-long camp in Canberra to help them prepare for the summer of tennis.
Kyrgios will extend invites to Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson and anyone else who wants some much needed game-like practice before the Australian Open.
“When they feel comfortable to travel again, I’ll be trying to get them down here (to Canberra),” said Kyrgios, who helped launch the new PlayStation 5 this week.
“In the next week or two I’ll be putting out the message
and seeing how they are feeling. You don’t want to force it on them.
“It’s people who are willing to come here and have a hit and bring that level day in day out for a month.
“I’m going to most likely get a bunch of people here for sure. I’m going to try to get a little training block and create that camp environment where you can create that energy of the Australian summer.
“We’re going to try (to) bring that level immediately. It would be a good hitout before the Australian summer.”
The world No.45 is also preparing to enter a bubble to play in January. Just exactly
what sort of restrictions the players will be under is yet to be determined but Kyrgios said he was willing to commit to ensure the tournament goes ahead and the safety of players is maintained.
“I’ll be good (in a bubble),” Kyrgios said. “I’m feeling fresh. My level is right where I want it to be. I’ve got a lot of time before then anyway. I’m looking forward it.
“I’m looking to play and preparing for the Aussie summer — that’s where it will start. Depending on what they do with the bubble. We will see how that goes but that’s what I’m preparing for.
“(Tournament organisers) haven’t picked my brain real
ly yet. I’m assuming they will pretty much have some guidelines (including) how many guests they allow for each team there. At this stage I have faith they will do it right.”
Kyrgios has also backed Tennis Australia’s proposal to extend the summer into midFebruary. With some uncertainty still around the Open, if players arrive in Australia Kyrgios is keen to see more tournaments played.
“It’s an awesome plan and great initiative to have a couple of tournaments in case people fly from overseas where they’ve been dealing with so much stress,” he said.
“To have a couple of tour
naments that people can lock in for an amount of time (is great) so they feel safe.
“I wouldn’t say I miss (tennis) completely but I’ve been playing and practising a lot. I’m ready to play again.
“With COVID I just don’t think some of our best players have handled it well and how they went about the whole thing. I feel comfortable now playing. I feel like I’ve seen an improvement.”
Aside from training, Kyrgios has also spent a “truckload” of time playing Call of Duty (COD) on the new PlayStation.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Kyrgios said. “I train and play as much COD as I can.”