New year, new Nick? Kyrgios ready to ‘roll with the punches’ and become a champion

After his most successful year on tour, there’s a feeling the Canberra wild child has finally matured enough to win an Australian Open

There have been many times in his career when attempting to get a read on Nick Kyrgios has been like taking on Rafael Nadal on clay; a task almost inevitably destined to end in failure. But something has changed in the past 12 months, a year in which he reached his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Kyrgios goes into this year’s Australian Open a changed man.

All players mature at different rates, on and off the court, and Kyrgios would probably admit that he has taken longer than most. But on the eve of his home Grand Slam, Kyrgios appears to be settled, mentally, as he tries to chase down a first major title.