Kyrgios: 'No One Wanted To Play Me First Round'

Nick Kyrgios is excited for Wimbledon, which is just his third tournament since Acapulco last February. But the Australian knows there is no guarantee he will come out firing.

“I know it’s not going to be easy to just turn the switch on, and I can’t expect myself to be playing the best type of tennis that I was maybe a couple years ago at Wimbledon,” Kyrgios said. “I’m not putting too much expectations or pressure on myself, but generally I feel pretty good. I feel physically not bad.

“I’ve been hitting a fair bit on the grass, trying to get two hits a day, trying to find my feet because it’s been almost two years since I’ve been on the grass. It’s been fun just being back here seeing a lot of the tennis world.”

The 26-year-old played two tournaments in Melbourne this February, including the Australian Open. Although he is light on matches heading into the grass-court Grand Slam, the World No. 61 believes he is still a dangerous opponent.

“I know for a fact that no one here wanted to play me first round and I feel completely confident going into this match. I’m not saying that I’m the favourite, but I know how to play on grass, I’ve won a lot of matches on grass. It’s going to be fun,” Kyrgios said. “I’m the underdog and I feel as if all I can do is just prepare and do as much as I can these next two, three days to get on the court and have fun. It’s Wimbledon.”

Kyrgios was intrigued by his draw against French lefty Ugo Humbert. In the second round of this year’s Australian Open, the home favourite saved two match points against Humbert to win an entertaining five-setter.

“Ugo has been playing some incredible tennis, obviously coming off that title in Halle. He’s been playing exceptionally well and I’m not surprised at all, to be honest,” Kyrgios said. “What I saw of him in Australia, I feel like I’ve played a lot of players and I’m pretty tactically switched on, and he’s got the game to do some pretty special things in this sport.

“I wasn’t surprised when he won that event in Halle and he’s a very good grass-court player. I know how he can be good on grass. He’s got a very good serve, very good backhand for a lefty, good volleys, so it’s going to be tough.”

The six-time ATP Tour titlist has not left Australia since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he has been training back home.

“I feel decent for not playing a match in however long, but that time at home was amazing,” Kyrgios said. “I kind of felt like Wimbledon, it’s an event that I never take for granted if I can play it, so I made the trip over.”

Kyrgios feels that when he returned to action in Australia this year, he “was right where [he] left off”. The Aussie is excited to see what happens on the lawns of SW19, and is keen to focus on his preparation and then go out and enjoy the match, whatever happens.

“I’m going to get myself some strawberries,” Kyrgios said. “And chill, hit some serves, hit some volleys, enjoy the grass and chill out.”