IN GREAT NICK FOR TITLE PUSH
Kyrgios says he’s never felt better
FREE of injury and in a positive headspace, Nick Kyrgios says he has never felt better heading into Wimbledon. The 2014 quarter-finalist has finally shrugged off severe elbow soreness and boasts victories over class grasscourters Andy Murray, Feliciano Lopez and Kyle Edmund in an ideal preparation. “I think it’s the best I’ve felt,” he said ahead of a potentially dangerous clash with Denis Istomin. “I’ve never really won many matches before Wimbledon, so to come in this time playing two solid weeks against tough opponents, that’s probably the best I’ve ever felt about my game coming on the grass. “But then again, anything can happen – Istomin can come out firing. That’s why I have to be ready to go from the get-go.” Asked if Wimbledon was his best chance of lifting one of the four majors, Kyrgios said: “Yeah for sure. “I grew up on the grass when I was a young kid. I played a lot on the grass courts, I know how to play on it, I feel extremely comfortable on it. “So yeah, out of the four (majors) I think it’s my best shot. “Yeah definitely (feel like a contender here). “If I put my mind to it and really focus, take one match at a time, I feel like I’m physically a lot better than a couple of years ago, and much stronger. A lot of things have to fall into place but I’m going to take it one match at a time.” Seeded 15th, Kyrgios’ most pressing challenge is bridging the gulf between regular Tour best-of-three set format to dealing with seven grand slam marathons.
“Just putting it together over two weeks isn’t something I’ve done before,” he said.
“And it’s not something many people have done - there’s always the select few who can do it and hopefully, you never know, in two weeks’ time it could be my breakthrough.
“But I’m going to take it one day at a time, I’m not going to think ahead, I’m going to do all the right things every day.
“I’m just gonna try and get through my first round, that’s where all my focus is at the moment.”
Kyrgios leads nine compatriots into the fray.
Matt Ebden, John Millman, Alex de Minaur, James Duckworth, Jordan Thompson, Alex Bolt, Jason Kubler, John-Patrick Smith and Bernard Tomic are the others.
Tomic claims he deserves a Wimbledon reprieve, insisting he was sick during listless finalround qualifying failure.
The Queenslander has been pitch-forked into the All England Club draw as a lucky loser after a soft three-set elimination by Ruben Bemelmans.
But despite the heavy loss, Tomic has found his way into the world’s premier tournament and he believes he is ready to capitalise.
“I was sick the last day and the day before and I got another chance to play Wimbledon. It’s good so I still try to recover and do my best,” he said.
“Playing Wimbledon, that’s where it all started for me. I played qualies eight or nine years ago, it’s where it all started for me.
“But I was not well and I was sick last week. Got sick and now I get another chance and I’ve got to take it.
“But I think I deserve another shot so obviously I was not well.
“So I get another chance at Wimbledon and I have to try and take it.”
Matt Ebden isn’t at Wimbledon to make up the numbers.
In the form of his life, the lateblooming West Australian faces Belgian 10th seed David Goffin in round one and believes it’s a match he should be winning.
“I’ve played him late last year in Tokyo, (lost) 7-6 in the third. He won and was on a streak, he’d won two or three tournaments back-to-back there. That was as good a level as any,” Ebden said ahead of their return bout tomorrow.