“That’s How You Run Around a Forehand”: Nick Kyrgios Starts Australian Open 2021 Preparation

Maverick Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has started his pre-season training and seems all geared up to make a comeback at his home Grand Slam this year.

Nick Kyrgios back where he belongs

A snatch of his training is now out on Twitter, showing the Australian unleashing one of his trademark big, booming forehands.

Kyrgios had taken a long break from tennis after revealing his struggles with depression. After battling mental issues and seeking counseling, the Australian is now back to doing what he does best.

And going by the footage, it would seem that the Canberra-born Kyrgios is motivated enough to not only make a winning return to tennis but also get the home crowd behind him as he bids to open his Grand Slam account at the Australian Open.

When Nick Kyrgios was in a lonely, dark place

Born to a Greek father and a Malay mother, Nick recently opened up on the dark days when he struggled with depression and even considered quitting tennis. He said that his mental sickness took him to a ‘lonely, dark place’ where he felt like he was ‘spiraling out of control’.

Kyrgios said that he lost his love and passion for the game and there was a time when he couldn’t even stand the sight of a tennis court.

He said the exhaustive Tour travels and the punishing ATP calendar aggravated his fragile mental state.

“I just lost the joy for the game and I was spiraling out of control,”  Kyrgios said, adding, “I was afraid to go out and talk to people because I thought I’d let them down because I wasn’t winning matches.”

Kyrgios has rekindled his love for tennis

Kyrgios shared a day on tour, in Shanghai, when he could not get out of bed.

“When I was struggling – and it wasn’t about just tennis – there were moments when I was seriously depressed,” Kyrgios said.

“I remember waking up in Shanghai one year and it was 4pm and I was still in bed, curtains closed. I didn’t want to see the light of day,” Kyrgios said. “I didn’t feel like I could trust anyone. It was a lonely, dark place.

“I don’t think people understand how lonely tennis can be. You’re out there on the court on your own,” Kyrgios said. “You can’t really talk to anyone. You have to figure things out for yourself. I did struggle with that.”

However, as is evident from the footage that the burly Australian has finally left his dark days behind and has rekindled his love for tennis.

Read More: “Worse situation than I thought”: Pat Cash on Nick Kyrgios Being Called the ‘Voice of Reason’