Seventy years after changing into the youngest participant to win the Australian Open, tennis legend Ken Rosewall believes Nick Kyrgios may also be a house slam champion this yr.
An 18-year-old Rosewall held aloft the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup in 1953, with this yr’s Open coin, used within the toss earlier than every match, minted in his honour.
Rosewall can also be the oldest Open champion, successful the foremost for a fourth time in 1972, with the 19-year hole the longest between a maiden and last title at any slam.
Now 88, Rosewall nonetheless retains shut tabs on the sport and has watched the stilted progress of Australia’s top-ranked man Kyrgios.
Like many, he is been annoyed to see Kyrgios not at all times maximise his potential however hopes the 27-year-old will rise to the event this yr after reaching the Wimbledon last and US Open quarters in 2022.
Rosewall has beforehand been crucial of a few of Kyrgios’s inflammatory on-court antics however needs to see the mercurial star go all the way in which.
Seeded nineteenth, Kyrgios opens his match on Tuesday evening on John Cain Arena in opposition to Russian Roman Safiullin.
“He hasn’t played a lot of tennis recently due to his injuries so that might not help him a great deal but Nick is one player who could rise to the occasion,” Rosewall mentioned on Sunday.
“Let’s hope so – Nick certainly has the ability to win the tournament but time will tell.
“The common consensus of the Australian tennis inhabitants is that they wish to see him play nicely and undergo.
“He’s a good enough player to do it.”
Eight-time main champion Rosewall can also be an enormous fan of Alex de Minaur, who has drawn Taiwanese qualifier Yu Hsiou Hsu in his first-round match on Tuesday evening.
“We’re looking for Alex de Minaur to continue with his great form,” mentioned Rosewall, who now lives on the Gold Coast.
“He’s had some great wins recently in the United Cup but he’s still got to play very well, as Alex knows.
“But he is very eager and bettering his recreation.”
Men’s tournament favourites Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both have clouds hanging over their Melbourne Park campaigns.
Nine-time Open champion Djokovic admitted he was still troubled by a hamstring injury suffered last week and had been unable to train fully.
Defending champion Nadal appears vulnerable with just one win from his past six matches dating back to the US Open, including a United Cup loss to de Minaur.
Seeded No.1 in the absence of his injured compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal faces British young gun Jack Draper on Monday on Rod Laver Arena.
“It’s in all probability one of many hardest first rounds attainable, being seeded,” Nadal said of the 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Adelaide last week.
“He’s younger, highly effective, rising very, very quick on the rankings, enjoying nicely.
“It’s a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament.
“I do know he is enjoying nicely – he has numerous optimistic issues, and possibly an incredible profession in entrance.
“I hope to be ready to fight for that first round and let’s see what can happen.”
