Nick Kyrgios brands himself 'the best player in the world'
Nick Kyrgios is knocked out in the first round of $1.5million Saudi tournament just ONE DAY after branding himself ‘the best player in the world’… and Aussie firebrand reveals why he might never play Davis Cup for Australia again
- Nick Kyrgios lost in straight sets against Cam Norrie in Diriyah Tennis Cup
- Aussie firebrand will now compete in the doubles semi-finals on Friday night
- The 27-year-old hasn’t played a Davis Cup match for Australia in three years
- And he said he may never do so again, as he wants to put his interests first
- Click here for all your latest international sports news at Daily Mail Australia
Nick Kyrgios was knocked out in the opening round of the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia less than 24 hours after describing himself as ‘the best players in the world’.
The Australian lost in straight sets 10-6, 10-6 – the first round follows a best-of-three match tie-breaks to 10, while all other rounds follow regular scoring under the ITF Rules of Tennis – to Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Krygios will now take part in the doubles tournament along with the other three players knocked out in the opening round of the 12-man invitational tournament in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.
Nick Kyrgios lost in straight sets against Cameron Norrie in the opening round of the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia
The four players knocked out on the opening day will compete together in doubles semi-finals on Friday night (AEDT), with the finals to following day ahead of the singles final.
Before losing to Norrie, a bullish Kyrgios had told the media he would be the man to beat in Saudi Arabia.
‘I’m the best player in the world,’ the current No22 in the ATP World Rankings said when asked why he felt confident to win the tournament.
The Aussie firebrand reached his maiden Grand Slam final in July, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets, before going all the way to the quarter-finals at the US Open.
The Australian reached his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in July this year
He lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic but believes his run was a major learning curve
And he believes his run at the All England Club could be a sliding doors moment for his career.
‘In recent years it seemed to me that I had lost my identity on the tennis court,’ he said.
‘Before the final at Wimbledon I couldn’t sleep, it was what I had worked for all my life.
The 27-year-old lost his cool as he was knocked out of the US Open in the quarter-finals by Karen Khachanov back in September
‘I was two sets away from tennis immortality, it’s an experience I will never forget. It made me so much hungrier for success, I learned a lot.’
Meanwhile, Kyrgios also revealed he may never represent Australia at the Davis Cup again, insisting he wanted to prioritise his interests over playing for his country.
‘At this point of my career, I’ll always do what’s best for me,’ he told AAP.
‘I can travel around the world playing exhibitions around this time of year for six figures — you know I feel I put myself in that position — so it’s an easy one for me.’
Kyrgios hasn’t played for Australia in the Davis Cup in the past three years
Kyrgios hasn’t played a Davis Cup match in three years and Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt and No1 player Alex de Minaur both revealed they had tried to persuade him to play.
But he insisted he wouldn’t rush in competing for Australia again, as he maintains his reputation back home isn’t warranted.
‘It’s not always easy for me to erase everything in Australia that’s said negatively about me or my family.
‘You don’t need that — so it’s interesting that they really want me to play, but are always criticising.’
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