Kyrgios plots calmer course

MELBOURNE - Mercurial Nick Kyrgios wants to keep on an even keel as the pressure of home expectations weighs on him at this year's Australian Open in Melbourne.

The tempestuous 22-year-old would appear to have the talent to win his home Grand Slam but his brittle state of mind often malfunctions to his detriment.

Roger Federer rates Kyrgios as a threat to the established order in the year's opening major but says the volatile Australian is a work in progress.

"When he's on, he's on and he's really difficult to beat... for him it's day to day and then week by week, can you keep it up?" Federer said this week.

"For him it's maybe in his mind and his body because he still needs to work much more than he currently is."

Kyrgios enters the tournament in good form, winning his first home ATP Tour title at the warm-up Brisbane International a week ago.

He was due to face Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva on his favorite Hisense Arena court in Monday's first round and could face world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. However, Kyrgios is not getting ahead of himself.

"I'd like to do well. I'm not going to say quarterfinals, semifinals, anything like that. I just want to take it one round at a time," he said ahead of his fifth Australian Open campaign.

"Everyone started the year hungry. They can play great quality tennis. I don't want to look ahead at all. I want to take care of business one round at a time."

'I feel relaxed'

Kyrgios' mental strength and attitude always come up in the conversation about his title chances, but he says he is trying to keep a more balanced mindset.

"I think last year there were periods where I was really good and really bad," he said. "But at the end of the day I just need to know it's a long year. I can't expend too much energy on other things.

"I want to kind of ride the highs, not as high as I usually do. If I lose a match, at the end of the day it's a tennis match.

"I kind of want to keep it even-keeled throughout the whole year rather than it being such a rollercoaster ride. I guess right now that's what I'm doing."

Kyrgios' best run at Melbourne Park came in 2015 when he reached the quarterfinals and he says he feels better placed to make a deep run this year.

"I probably feel a bit better this time around. I feel relaxed," he said. "Winning a tournament before you play a Grand Slam always helps."

Kyrgios was also upbeat about his physical condition.

"Yeah, my knee feels good. My physio flew in, so I've had him for the last two, three days. I've had the luxury of getting treated in my room at my hotel," he said.

"Haven't been spending too much time around the courts. I've been kind of doing my practice, getting out of here and just relaxing. So it's been good."

Agence France-presse