Fitness the focus for Kyrgios

NickKyrgios - Cropped

Fitness and physical conditioning are Nick Kyrgios' focuses in 2015 as he prepares to make his return from injury at the Barcelona Open.

The talented Australian teenager made the ideal start to the year, reaching the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

But a back injury during the year's first grand slam saw him sidelined, before he rolled his ankle and damaged ligaments in his foot on his return at Indian Wells in March.

Ranked 41st in the world, the big-serving and flamboyant Kyrgios stunned Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year.

And the 19-year-old's focus this year is on his fitness, beginning with his return from injury when he faces Swedish teenager Elias Ymer on the clay courts in Barcelona on Wednesday.

"My fitness and physicals for sure," Kyrgios told Perform when asked what he could improve most in 2015.

"My body is still developing and it's something I am focused on big time."

Unusually, Kyrgios - a two-time grand slam quarter-finalist - has won just two ATP World Tour main-draw matches in his career.

His performances on the big stage have definitely led to him being recognised more on the streets.

"Massively so but it comes with the territory," Kyrgios says.

"You won't get any complaints from me on that."

Kyrgios' passion, often criticised, has led to flamboyance on the court - including an incredible 'tweener' in his win over Nadal.

That, he says, is just instinct.

"I love playing trick shots or crazy shots to get the crowd on their feet," Kyrgios said.

"I do it a lot in practice but I don't go into matches thinking I am going to hit them."

Kyrgios' on-court attitude was slammed during the Australian Open, with his swearing drawing most of the attention.

"I'm a passionate person too," he said.

"I can get pretty animated at certain things especially when playing or watching basketball.

"You'll be pleased to know though that I am not as highly strung off-court as I am on."

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