A surprisingly somber Nick Kyrgios posed with the Brisbane International trophy on Monday, after crushing American Ryan Harrison in straight sets to claim his first ATP title on home soil the previous night.
Wearing a black t-shirt with holes on his right side, the world No.17 spoke to media at Brisbane Powerhouse, telling reporters he is ready to embrace the grind of a grand slam.
Kyrgios was later seen boarding a private plane with talent agent John Morris and fellow Australian professional tennis player Matt Reid.
A surprisingly somber Nick Kyrgios (pictured) posed with the Brisbane International trophy on Monday, after crushing American Ryan Harrison to claim his first ATP title on home soil the previous night
Wearing a black t-shirt with holes on his right side, the world No.17 (pictured) spoke to media at Brisbane Powerhouse, telling reporters he is ready to embrace the grind of a grand slam
Kyrgios (pictured) was later seen boarding a private plane with talent agent John Morris and fellow Australian professional tennis player Matt Reid
Kyrgios has doused any concerns of injury after claiming his maiden title, with one punter betting $40,000 on the 22-year-old to win this month’s Australian Open.
If he’s successful, Sportsbet could pay out almost $840,000.
‘This bet totally took us by surprise. Kyrgios has the weapons to win a Grand Slam, but that’s about it really. Best of luck to the punter…..I think they’ll need it,’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen told Fox Sports.
The third seed combined casual flair with enormous power to beat Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-2 at the Brisbane International in an ideal build up to the Australian Open later this month.
Although his left knee was strapped while during his Brisbane performance, Kyrgios is confident his body will be able to hold up to the rigours of best-of-five set tennis in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old staved off five break points in the first set, including three in his third service game as the American made a terrific fist of dealing with the booming Kyrgios delivery.
Kyrgios (pictured) has doused any concerns of injury after claiming his maiden title, with one punter betting $40,000 on the 22-year-old to win this month’s Australian Open
If he’s(pictured) successful, Sportsbet could pay out almost $840,000
Although his left knee was strapped while during his Brisbane performance, Kyrgios (second from left) is confident his body will be able to hold up to the rigours of best-of-five set tennis in Melbourne
But the Australian third seed held his nerve and pounced at his first opportunity to break, then raced through the second set as the world No.47 failed to keep pace.
‘The way I put myself in some pretty tough situations, came back from a set down three times against three pretty good opponents, that’s just confidence mentally but physically as well,’ he said of his week in Brisbane.
‘I’m pretty happy with my performance today; he came out firing early.
‘I didn’t know what kind of performance I’d put in, as the week went on I felt I was serving better and hitting the ball a lot better.’
Kyrgios’ fitness will come under the microscope ahead of the season’s first grand slam.
At one stage in the first set he quizzed a match official after not being allowed a medical time-out to re-strap his knee, hypothetically raising the notion that further injury could keep him out of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios (pictured) plays a backhand in the Men’s Final match against Ryan Harrison of the USA during day eight of the 2018 Brisbane International
Kyrgios (pictured) holds the trophy after winning the final against Ryan Harrison
Kyrgios clarified after the match that it was simply ‘professional curiosity’ that led to that conversation, dousing any suggestion that the injury could derail his Melbourne campaign as he confirmed his attendance at Monday’s Fast4 exhibition tournament in Sydney.
His movement only improved after that exchange, a 17th ace sealing the victory in 1 hour and 13 minutes as he appeared largely untroubled navigating the court.
‘The more the load, the more movement given, the better it gets,’ he said.
‘I played 11 sets (in the tournament) and feel good.’
In lifting the Roy Emerson Trophy, Kyrgios becomes the second Australian champion in the tournament’s 10-year history after Lleyton Hewitt in 2014.
The triumph, the fourth of his young career, lifts Kyrgios four spots to No.17 in the world ahead of this month’s Australian Open.
‘He’s obviously very motivated and very comfortable,’ Harrison said.
‘You know, he’s going to be a danger to beat anybody that he plays whenever he plays like that.
‘I think that it’s nothing new, though, for him.’