Can Nick Kyrgios convert his blistering form into Grand Slam wins? Image credit: AdobeStock
Indeed, at number 37 in the official world rankings, Kyrgios appears to be treading water in the men’s game but the reality is that the Australian is consistently beating his peers, as he proved once more when he defeated world number one Daniil Medvedev at the Canadian Open in August.
It has been a breakthrough year for the Australian but the 27-year-old is yet to convert this blistering form into a Grand Slam win. Interestingly, the latest tennis odds suggest that the 2022 US Open could be the first Grand Slam win of Kyrgios’ career.
At least, if you bet on US Open outright markets then you will see Kyrgios at just 6/1 to go all the way at Flushing Meadows. Those odds tell their own revealing story of just how prolific the Aussie has been since Wimbledon 2022 when you take into account that when he flew out of London following his defeat in the final to Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios was at odds of 50/1 to win the US Open.
https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/OBNmontreal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/hashtag/OBN22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In some respects, it could be said that the consensus at the time was that for all of Kyrgios’ promising signs over the course of Wimbledon 2022, many speculated that the Australian would not be able to keep this level of performance up throughout the rest of the year.
That theory was quickly put to bed after Kyrgios went to the Citi Open just three weeks after Wimbledon and won the singles event before returning to court to win the doubles final alongside Jack Sock. Needless to say, Kyrgios made history by doing so and proved that his Wimbledon heroics were more than just a flash in the pan.
As briefly touched on, Kyrgios followed up his Citi Open wins by putting Medvedev to the sword in thrilling fashion in front of a stunned crowd in Montreal. Realistically speaking, this dominant run of form surely means that the Aussie has to be considered the man to beat in New York.
Naturally, it goes without saying but Kyrgios will, in all likelihood, never arrive at a Grand Slam in better form, and on the back of a disappointing final loss to Djokovic at SW19, Kyrgios will jet into the Big Apple having learned a great deal about himself.
Indeed, the world’s best players have learned far more from losing than they ever have from winning, and in Kyrgios’ case, you can see that the Australian has taken those tough lessons he picked up on Centre Court, and is now channeling those feelings into propelling his career forward.
Australia will now hold its collective breath as their once prodigal son attempts to find redemption on the hallowed courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The time is coming, and even if Kyrgios comes up short in New York, he will then have another opportunity in Melbourne in early 2023 during his home Grand Slam. Indeed, it is a case of when and not if with Kyrgios, who is now within touching distance of greatness.