Nick Kyrgios claims he would be so elated with an Australian Open singles win that he will walk away from the sport.
The Australian is preparing for another Grand Slam campaign in front of his home crowd, but this time feels different. The 27-year-old reached his first major singles final at Wimbledon last year and won the men’s doubles crown at Melbourne Park last year.
Having clawed his way back into the world’s top 25, Kyrgios is now positioned as one of the favourites for the first time in his career. Following his victory over Novak Djokovic in an exhibition bout at Rod Laver Arena, Kyrgios was asked if he would retire if he won a Grand Slam singles title, as he has hinted at before. The Canberra star replied: "100 per cent! It is a lot of training and a lot of work. I just want to be able to eat whatever I want and drink what I want to drink, and just relax. It is a hard lifestyle.
"The dedication that these guys show day in and day out... I did a bit of that last year and had a great year to show that I am still one of the best. I am going to try and do it this year, and hopefully I can do it, but it will be hard." Kyrgios was blown away by the support he received as he walked out for the match which sold out in just 58 minutes, with fans desperate to see him lock horns with Djokovic.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous standing back out here!" he said. "A kid from Canberra growing up and then selling out this arena in 58 minutes with one of the best players in the world, it's amazing! It's a very special moment for me. I know the last couple of years in Melbourne it's been a struggle."
The exhibition bout saw Kyrgios and Djokovic play the ‘Fast 4’ format, meaning four games are required to win instead of the traditional six, with a tiebreak played at 3-3 to decide the set. Kyrgios took the first 4-3(3) and Djokovic levelled the match at 4-2, before an entertaining tiebreak to ten points decided the match.
With the help from two wheelchair tennis players before a pair of junior stars joined in, the Aussie and Serb produced an enthralling tiebreak which Team Kyrgios won on sudden death by a score of 10-9.
Speaking after the exhibition match on Djokovic, Kyrgios said: “It’s so important to have him around. One of the greatest already left us last year, Roger (Federer). I don’t think we actually knew how special these guys are to our sport.”
Trying to win in Melbourne for a record-extending 10th time, Djokovic said: “This is the court and the stadium where I created the best memories of my professional tennis career”, having already won nine titles in the Australian city, with his first coming in 2008.
“15 years later I’m here again and competing at a high level so I must be very grateful for this opportunity to be here so I must thank you for welcoming me in a good way.”
