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Nick Kyrgios insists that no one will EVER understand how much pressure he is under every Australian Open, as he posts a cryptic video about people wanting to see their heroes fail.
- Australian star addressed high expectations ahead of Grand Slam in Melbourne
- Kyrgios arrives at the tournament after excelling at Wimbledon and US Open
- He posted a video of Spider-Man referencing tall poppy syndrome on Friday.
Nick Kyrgios spoke about the intense expectations he will face at this year’s Australian Open before posting a cryptic video on social media referencing people’s desire to see big names fall.
The 27-year-old is trying to overcome an ankle injury before the Grand Slam kicks off on January 16 and comes into this year’s event with fans’ hopes set high after his breakout 2022 season, which saw him saw him reach the men’s singles final at Wimbledon and the quarterfinals at the US Open.
Kyrgios hinted that those two deep runs taught him some lessons that will come in handy when he takes the pitch at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
‘People will never understand the pressure I feel during this period of the year. It’s always hard to navigate,’ he said news corporation.
Kyrgios entered last year’s Australian Open undercooked and lost in the first round (pictured). He believes there is intense pressure on him to do much better at this year’s Grand Slam.
Kyrgios has credited girlfriend Costeen Hatzi (pictured together) with helping him turn his game around in 2022, having had stellar runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.
“I worked on a few things last year during Wimbledon and the US Open and I’ll try to replicate the same things here in Australia.”
Earlier this week, there was speculation that his ankle could rule him out of the Australian Open after the star withdrew from the United Cup and Adelaide International tournament, prompting his manager Daniel Horsfall to lash out at critics who thought the injury it might not be genuine.
Kyrgios put any concerns about his availability to bed, insisting that his ankle “definitely feels better” and revealing that he has been training and exercising.
On Friday night he posted a video to his Instagram account showing a scene from the 2002 Spider-Man movie starring Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe.
In it, the villainous Green Goblin played by Dafoe confronts Spider-Man during a fight, telling him, “You choose the path of the hero, and the people of this town found you amusing for a while.”
“But the only thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall.”
The video appears to be a reference to tall poppy syndrome, which Kyrgios spoke about last month.
The 27-year-old posted a clip from the 2022 Spider-Man movie to his Instagram on Friday (pictured) in what appears to be a reference to tall poppy syndrome in Australia.
Kyrgios last played in Dubai last month (pictured) before an ankle injury sidelined him from the Australian Open warm-up tournaments.
On December 29, his manager Horsfall tweeted: “Why does Tall Poppy Syndrome exist… especially in Australia against other Aussies… amazes me.”
Kyrgios responded by tweeting: “My brudda talks about facts.”
Last month he also criticized what he sees as the public’s insatiable desire for him to stay in the headlines.
“I have learned that people will never have enough,” he said. eurosport.
‘It’s always hard to be me. When I win a tournament or win something of value, they always want more.
‘It’s never like, OK, it’s time to rest. It’s like, okay, do it again.
Kyrgios will meet his first opponent in Rod Laver when the Australian Open draw takes place on January 12.