'I almost don't know who I am anymore' - Nick Kyrgios on new work ethic after reaching US Open third round
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Updated 01/09/2022 at 10:30 GMT
Nick Kyrgios finally made good on his potential with a dazzling run to the Wimbledon final, where he won the first set before fading against Novak Djokovic. Now that milestone has been reached, Kyrgios is determined to press on and compete for more major trophies – starting with the US Open. However, he admits that his renewed vigour for the sport is something that has surprised even himself.
US Open highlights: Serena thrills home crowd, Medvedev and Kyrgios through
Nick Kyrgios says his run to the Wimbledon final has inspired him to become “really professional” – although he admits it has also left him wondering “who I am”.
Kyrgios is through to the third round at the US Open after beating Benjamin Bonzi in four sets on Thursday, a match that saw him merge the sublime with the stupid.
The Australian played a brilliant first-set tie-break to seize control of the match, and responded well when his French opponent forced a fourth set, but he was also handed a code violation for spitting in the direction of his own player’s box.
WARNING: Strong language in below tweet
However, Kyrgios chose to focus on the positives in his post-match press conference and said his defeat to Novak Djokovic at SW19 has made him much more willing to give tennis his all.
“This year's been amazing in so many different ways. For my tennis, I kind of wanted to almost reinvent myself, get back to the top of the game where I know I belong," he said.
“The Wimbledon final was a turning point I think for me mentally. If I won that match, I don't know where my motivation would have been at. Losing it and being so close, it was really tough for me to kind of swallow that.
“Winning Washington, winning so many matches, I just feel like I thought the pressure would be off me after winning Wimbledon. He's a Wimbledon finalist, he's nearly-over-the-hump-type thing. For me, personally, I didn't think I'd be putting this amount of pressure on myself. Every day I come in, I watch what I eat, I try and get sleep. Like every practice session I try and have good intent.
“I almost don't know who I am anymore, to be honest, because that's not me. Trying to balance so many different things out. It's hard as well. The media, the fans are crazy everywhere I go. I'm trying to balance my personal life as well as my tennis. It's just a lot.
“I feel like I'm really professional right now. I never thought that the Wimbledon final would make me that way. I thought it would be the other way, the reverse, almost a bit lax and a bit chilled with it.
Kyrgios will next face American J.J. Wolf in the third round.
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