Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios is strapping in for what could be the ride of his life after reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, posting a huge upset win over Rafael Nadal before losing to Milos Raonic.
The 19-year-old will have to be prepared for a new level of interest in his big game. But the young man from Canberra said he’s ready for whatever comes his way, “There is a lot of room for improvement,” said the number 144 who will move inside the top 100 in the Monday ATP rankings. “But at the same time, there’s something special I have that can make it deep into grand slams. I’m doing it at 19.
“I think in the future there’s going to be something there that, of course, I can go a bit further.” Kyrgios, managed by a boutique PR shop in London, has been told to brace for a new life after his tennis achievement for a country starving for a new champion after 33-year-old Lleyton Hewitt.
“I’m pretty aware that life has changed. I’ve noticed the change. On the first day I was walking around the crowds and no one noticed me at all. Then I was walking around the crowds yesterday and this morning and everyone’s noticing me,” he said, after losing to Raonic.
“I’ll do whatever I can to control the pressure: work hard, give great effort. When I’m back home, I’m going to spend about a week and a half at home now and do a training block in Melbourne. I’m just going to do whatever I can.” Krygios is next scheduled for play on grass next week in Newport in the US, a plan which might be subject to revision.