Nick Kyrgios will compete for just the second time on Tour this season when he takes to court at Wimbledon on Monday, with his preparations for the grass-court major disrupted by an ongoing knee injury.
While doubts about his fitness remain, Kyrgios believes he is in a position to compete, as he refuses to look too far ahead.
“I still think there are some question marks,” Kyrgios said during his pre-tournament press conference on Sunday. “Obviously five-set tennis is a completely different beast altogether. I look at my preparations last year coming in, I probably had the most ideal preparation possible. It couldn’t be any different this year.
“Again, I’m not going to discredit the work I’ve put in for the past six months just trying to maintain my fitness, get back on court. I’ve been hitting with some really good players this week and my body is feeling okay. I’m going to take it one day at a time. I’m not going to look forward and put unfair expectations on myself. I’m just going to try to do everything I can, prepare, go out there and play some good tennis.”
Kyrgios underwent knee surgery in January, with his only tour-level match this season a straight sets defeat against Wu Yibing on grass in Stuttgart last month. The 28-year-old revealed he has been working hard to return as quickly as possible, finding the time out challenging.
“I’ve been really disciplined throughout that time. I barely missed any sort of part of the process. I’ve been working really hard. I’ve been trying to do everything possible. I feel probably as good as I could feel at the moment.” Kyrgios said.
“In a way it was good to be home. Obviously heartbreaking as well,” Kyrgios later added. “Last year I felt like everything kind of came together for me. Finals of Wimbledon. Barely lost a match. Had the third best season on Tour. Obviously my body was just crying out for some sort of rest. I needed to do what I had to do. It’s been brutal. It’s been hard.”
Kyrgios holds fond memories at Wimbledon, having advanced to his first major final at SW19 last year. The Australian, who begins against David Goffin, is hoping to use that experience to his benefit this fortnight.
“I’m extremely confident. I’ve never been a player that needs a lot of matches before playing a Slam. I’ve always been kind of on the side of not playing too much,” Kyrgios said. “But what I’ve achieved in my career never leaves. It never leaves you. Last year, it wasn’t that long ago really. I feel like I’m still serving as good as ever. I’m still able to beat a lot of people on the court. I just got to take it day by day.”