Nick Kyrgios: 'You kind of learn from these experiences'

• Tennis News

Andy Murray believes that Nick Kyrgios has done enough to show that he is now a legitimate Grand Slam title contender. The 27-year-old Kyrgios reached his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon last year, before losing to Novak Djokovic.

Two months later, Kyrgios reached the quarterfinals of the US Open before suffering a stunning loss against Karen Khachanov. Kyrgios, who won the Australian Open doubles title last year, has made it abundantly clear that his intention in 2023 is to become a Grand Slam singles champion as well.

"Last year he won the doubles here and then he also had a great run at Wimbledon. He was very close and not that far at the US Open either. He has been knocking on the door in the last couple of Slams and I hope he has a good preparation and everything to give yourself the best opportunity.

He can do it, but it's not going to be easy," Murray said, according to Eurosport. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has refused to walk away from tennis after undergoing two hip surgeries. Murray, who will turn 36 in May, is well past his prime, but he feels healthy and still wants to play tennis.

That said, Murray doesn't have a retirement date in mind. "I still love hitting tennis balls, I'm lucky to be able to do it at a high level, it's not the level of five or six years ago, but I love the sport. I have been healthy for the last seven months.

I don't wake up with aches and pains like I have in past years. As long as my body holds up well and I train properly and perform at the level I like, I'll keep going. But I don't have a timetable [for withdrawal]," Murray explained.

At the Australian Open, Murray has been a finalist five times but has never won a title. It remains to be seen if Murray can turn back the clock and make a great race at Melbourne Park next January.

Kyrgios has no regrets

Nick Kyrgios reflected on how he has evolved in his relationship with Djokovic and has no regrets.

"I don't really regret anything. I think life is too short to regret. You kind of learn from these experiences. They're all kind of building blocks. At the same time I think it's made our relationship even more special now that it's kind of gone from a rough sort of place to now we're helping each other out on the biggest stage.

We're just great competitors," he said. "To think I'm able to do that with one of the greatest of all time is cool. I think my relationship with the big three is all different. I'm really close with Novak now. Quite close with Roger. And me and Rafa, we just do that when we walk past each other. It's pretty cool," he added.