ZCZC
BSP-06
TENNIS-OPEN-AUS-FEDERER-KYRGIOS
Tennis: Federer impressed by Kyrgios form
MELBOURNE, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion Roger Federer
sees temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios as a threat at the Australian Open
— if he can keep his focus.
The 19-time Grand Slam winner, who is coming off an extraordinary 2017 in
which he won two Grand Slams, will be up against a depleted field when the
first Grand Slam of the year begins at Melbourne Park on Monday, with Andy
Murray and Kei Nishikori out injured.
Long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have also been struggling
in the lead-up, potentially leaving the door open to one of the so-called
“NextGen”.
The volatile Kyrgios is among them and in good form, winning the lead-up
Brisbane International last weekend, beating another young gun, Grigor
Dimitrov, along the way.
Federer said his recent title success had not gone unnoticed.
“He’s (Kyrgios) going through his things, whatever he needs to go
through,” the Swiss great told the Herald Sun newspaper Saturday. “But when
he’s on, he’s on and he’s really difficult to beat.
“It seems like he’s doing the right things otherwise he wouldn’t be
winning tournaments, especially not in Brisbane because being able to cope
with the pressure at home is not a simple thing.”
While the 22-year-old Australian crowd-puller, seeded 17, has exceptional
talent, he has often undermined his abilities with petulant outbursts
directed at the umpire or fans.
Federer acknowledged he was a work in progress.
“Similar to my challenge, for him it’s day to day and then week by week,
can you keep it up?” he said.
“For me, it’s because of me getting older. For him it’s maybe in his mind
and his body because he still needs to work much more than he currently is.”
Federer added: “I think he’s incredibly talented.”
Kyrgios, who made the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2015, will begin
his 2018 campaign against Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva.
The Swiss, seeded two, who starts his title defence against Aljaz Bedene,
said he was feeling good and looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m playing well and now it’s just about getting through the matches at
the beginning part of the tournament,” Federer said.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0945 hrs