Due to a knee injury, it was four months since Nick Kyrgios last played a competitive match and the preparations for the Australian Open hardly improved when he tested positive for covid-19 as recently as January 10.
But by a narrow margin, the Australian tennis player managed to get ready to play for this year’s first grand slam after a week in quarantine and was obviously eager to play when he took on the British Liam Broady at John Cain Arena in Melbourne in front of a hurried home crowd.
It was a victory i tre raka set, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3.
– When I tested positive, it was not great news, a week before the Australian Open. The last week in isolation has been tough. But my girlfriend was with me, I was lucky to have access to a tennis court and had to serve a little – and today I served damn well, says Kyrgios to the delight of the audience in his victory interview in Eurosport.
– I was worried that I would not be physically ready to play. But I took it day by day, tried to be positive and it made the pressure go away. I’m glad I got to be here in this year’s first match. It’s my favorite course in the whole world.
As a young man, Kyrgios was considered one of the world’s foremost talents, but his career has been marred by controversial outbursts, outbursts and various scandals on the tennis court. He has been ranked 13th in the world at best, but has recently fallen to 115th place.
Against Liam Broady, however, he showed his best side, and got the home crowd going really well.
– Nick Kyrgios celebrated as Cristiano Ronaldo after the victory against Liam Broady in the Australian Open.
Photo: James Gourley/TT
What can have perceived as booming from the stands were in fact repetitions of the football star Cristiano Ronaldo’s winged words “siu” as the Portuguese shouts as he makes his jumping and wide-legged goal gesture with his arms outstretched.
“It’s enough once per set”, Kyrgios was heard saying with a twinkle in his eye during the match when he was significantly disturbed by the sound during a game. Two straight serveess later – and also with a couple of blows between the legs during the match (see clip below) – he only got the supporters going even more.
– I do not know what I have done with this audience, but you were like a zoo. You lost control, says Kyrgios – obviously happy to be back on the tennis court.
– I’m very happy to be here again. We’ve all had a couple of tough years. I really had fun with you.
In the next round, one of the favorites is waiting to take home the Australian Open, namely the reigning US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia.
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