Australian Open: Australian star Nick Kyrgios declares he is ‘one of the best players in the world’

“I am one of the best players in the world, so I’m going to go into the Australian Open or any tournament with confidence.”

That’s the bold pre-tournament declaration Nick Kyrgios has made as he prepares to launch an assault at his home grand slam next week.

The polarising Australian star will face Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster sold-out warm-up match on Friday night — if the Serbian star can overcome his hamstring tightness — but has bigger things in his sights and believes he’s ready to go deep in the tournament.

It comes as the tennis star was unveiled as a new owner as booming NBL franchise the South East Melbourne Phoenix, just four days out from the tournament.

“It’s a bit different this time around for me, being one of the favourites, usually I’m kind of like a dark horse type thing but after the year I’ve had I’m one of the favourites approaching — so it’s kind of new for me as well,” Kyrgios said.

“It’s the first time I’ve gone into a slam thinking I’m one of the guys that can take the trophy and knock on the door, so I don’t know what I’m going to be feeling when I get out there, usually I’ve got nothing to lose type thing and just putting on a show, but I’ve got to really find that balance the next two weeks.”

It’s been a typically headline-laced lead-in for the Canberra-born enigma, who pulled out of Australia’s maiden United Cup captain just minutes before the team’s press conference, and hasn’t played competitively at all in his home country this month.

But Kyrgios says the soreness he cited for the withdrawal, which reignited a feud with tennis great Lleyton Hewitt, is behind him.

“My knee is feeling good, my ankle is feeling good, my body is feeling good. I don’t think anyone is feeling 100 per cent, with a couple of people pulling out already and a couple of people in doubt, it’s normal this time of year for people to be battling with some injuries, but that’s all good,” he said.

“I feel like I’ve proven I can go deep in a grand slam and with the support of the Phoenix and my team and everyone around — hopefully Australia on my back — it’s going to be a good couple of weeks.”

Djokovic is the latest big name under an injury cloud, pulling out of a practice match with Russian fancy Daniil Medvedev after just half-an-hour after receiving treatment on his hamstring throughout.

But Kyrgios says at this stage, their Rod Laver Arena showdown is going ahead — and claims it will be a boost, rather than a rival, to the Open’s main draw.

“I haven’t heard anything else, but with Novak he’s not someone that is short of tennis, he’s played a lot of tennis over his career so he knows how his body needs to be feeling moving forward,” he said.

“We’ve raised a lot of money there for charity as well. I think anyone who thinks having a match like this is bad for a tournament... whenever you can get two of the best players in the world playing in front of fans for cheap tickets that people may not be able to afford later on in the week if we do happen to come across each other.

“I think it gives people the opportunity to come see and just watch tennis, during the pandemic people weren’t even able to go outside, so to have any sort of event like this is a bonus for the people and just to see where our bodies are at I think it’s important.

“For people saying ‘Australia is bending over for this practice match’, I could have been playing a practice match anywhere, so I think it’s a bonus we’re able to do it in this beautiful stadium.”

Kyrgios also addressed handling the pressure of an expectant home crowd and heaped praise on now-retired Ash Barty’s ability to handle the same situation to win a major on home soil.