
Nick Kyrgios (zimbio.com)
Many have labelled him as a future world No.1 and now Nick Kyrgios has publicly said that he hopes to one day rise to the top of the ATP Emirates rankings.
The 22-year-old has been ranked as high as 13th in 2016. This season he has scored wins over Novak Djokovic (twice), Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev. At the Cincinnati Open he reached his first Masters 1000 final before falling to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. Troubled by a hip injury during parts of 2017, the Australian has achieved an overall win-loss record of 31-17 on the tour.
During a visit to a primary school in his home city of Canberra, Kyrgios conducted a question and answer session with the students. One asked where he would like his ranking to be in the next five years. Prompting a candid response from the two-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist.
“I’d like to say I’d be in the top five in the world, but there is a lot of work to do before then, I have to keep working hard and take it day by day but hopefully top five and pushing for that number one spot,” Kyrgios was quoted as saying.
Kyrgios’ goal of reaching No.1 has been previously back by some of his rivals. Tour veteran David Ferrer believes his rise in the future depends on his mentality. The Spanish 35-year-old lost to Kyrgios in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters earlier this year.
“Nick is young guy. He’s a nice guy. He’s improving every year and he’s the future,” Ferrer said. “He will have a lot of chances to be number one in the world and to win Grand Slams, but depends of his mentality.”
Throughout his career, Kyrgios has been marred by controversial incidents. The most recent occurred at the Shanghai Masters when he retired after losing the opening set to Steve Johnson. Kyrgios insisted that his retirement were due to illness and a shoulder issue, but was still slammed with a penalty. He was fined £23,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct and failing to attend a medical evaluation after the match.
We live a very special life
Speaking about his love for sports in Canberra, Kyrgios labelled Basketball as his favourite. The 22-year-old has spoken on numerous occasions about his love for the sport. Nevertheless, he was steered into the direction of tennis by his family at a young age. Something he described as a ‘great experience.’
“My parents pushed me into tennis, originally I loved playing computer games at home and I wasn’t really doing too much else with my life, so my mum got me to the tennis court,” Kyrgios said.
“My parents loved the sport, they grew up with it as well and that’s the reason I play, my family pushed me into it but it’s been a great experience.
“We travel everywhere around the world. I’ve met a lot of people and had a lot of relationships with people I never thought I’d get to meet.
“We live a very special life and are very lucky, I just love to compete and go out there and have fun and that’s why I play.”
Kyrgios is currently ranked 21st in the world. He ended his 2017 campaign in October due to persistent hip pain.