The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘Matured’ Nick Kyrgios to play at Queen’s in run-up to Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios is expecting “big things on grass this year” after joining the field for the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club.
“I love playing on grass. It’s my favourite surface, it suits my game a lot and I’m expecting big things on grass this year,” the 22-year-old Australian said.
“Mentally I have improved a lot recently. I’m in a great place at the moment, I feel like I’ve matured and that’s helping me. I’m playing better tennis, I’m getting some better results.” The tournament begins on June 19. Meanwhile, Heather Watson believes Maria Sharapova’s comeback from a doping ban is being made too easy.
The Russian will complete her 15-month suspension on April 25 and then play her first match the following day at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart after being given a wild card.
The tournament begins two days before her ban runs out but Sharapova, who is sponsored by Porsche, has been guaranteed a Wednesday start to comply with WTA rules.
She has also been given wild cards into events in Madrid and Rome, two of the biggest tournaments on the WTA Tour, which could see her ranked back in the top 100 in time for Wimbledon.
Watson said: “From a moral standpoint, you should have to work your way back up if you’ve been on a ban.
“It just seems a bit easy.”