NIck Kyrgios has been using his Wimbledon final to lift his tennis, with the one-time slacker clearly shocked at how much he is motivated on court.
The No. 25 Australian reached the US Open third round on Wednesday 7-6(3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 over Benjamin Bonzi of France.
Kyrgios confessed that his All England Club runner-up spot to Novak Djokovic has completely changed his attitude to the sport, making him eager to work hard in search of more success.
“The Wimbledon final was a turning point for me mentally. If I won that match, I don’t know where my motivation would have been,” the 27-year-old said.
“Losing it and being so close, it was really tough for me to swallow. I thought the pressure would be off me after winning Wimbledon.
“I don’t think I’d be putting this amount of pressure on myself (had he won). “
From shooting hoops and video gaming, Kyrgios has switched his focus to tennis and its constant demands.
“Every day I watch what I eat, I try and get sleep. In every practice session I try and have good intent
“I almost don’t know who I am anymore, to be honest, because that’s not me. Trying to balance so many different things out. It’s hard as well.
“The media, the fans are crazy everywhere I go. I’m trying to balance my personal life as well as my tennis. It’s just a lot.
“I feel like I’m really professional right now. I never thought the Wimbledon final would make me that way. I thought it would be the other way.
“Yeah, it’s stressful.”
