Kyrgios Not Worried about Being Unseeded at Aussie Open

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Kyrgios Not Worried about Being Unseeded at Aussie Open

After nearly breaking the ATP record for aces in a three-set match in his first match of the season (he registered 44, against Ryan Harrison, which is second all-time), Nick Kyrgios met defeat against Jeremy Chardy in Brisbane on Wednesday, falling in three sets, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 to his friend from France.

Kyrgios admits that he wasn’t expecting much from his title defense at Brisbane due to the fact that he’s recovering from an infection caused by a spider bite which derailed his training prior to the event.

“I’m not too concerned,” he said. “I know that I’ll probably have to go hit some balls in practice."

He added: “It’s tough to come back and play this level of tennis not really hitting and getting my iron from the back of the court at all,” Kyrgios said. “Every time I have a rally it feels foreign, and I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

Upset complete ✅

Jeremy Chardy stays the course for a 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3 victory over No.8 seed and defending champ Nick Kyrgios #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/Qsnsb59WIi
— #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) January 2, 2019

There are some positives for Kyrgios despite the cloudy outlook, however.

“But, yeah, I’m serving well," the Aussie said. "That’s a positive. And to go three sets with a guy, Jeremy, barely practicing in the off-season, I take as a positive. So now I gotta get to the practice court, hit a lot of balls and move into the Australian Open—that’s what I’m going to do.”

The current World No.35 is set to drop outside of the Top 50 once his points from last year’s title run at Brisbane fall off. That means he could end up facing anyone in the opening round at his home Slam.

The 23-year-old reached the round of 16 at Melbourne last season, so he’s got significant points to defend there as well.

Is not being seeded a concern for Kyrgios?

“I honestly could not care less,” he said, before adding: “I feel like no matter who I play I’ve got a fair shot if I play the right tennis if I’m feeling good. But at this stage I’m not even thinking about it … no matter who I draw I have to play, and that’s just what it is.”

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