Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his men's singles tennis match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London July 1, 2014.
Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his men's singles tennis match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London July 1, 2014. REUTERS

As Nick Kyrgios prepares for the huge Australian summer of tennis, the Canberra native tennis prodigy reflected on his victory over then World number one Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon in July. Kyrgios is determined that he will be able to pick up from his breakout 2014 season and soon get to the top of the world rankings.

In an interview with Mark Gibson for Seven News Perth ahead of his first appearance at the Hopman Cup, Kyrgios recalled the moment when he stunned Nadal in four sets during the men's singles fourth round match at SW19. Kyrgios is aware that he has to deal with all the pressure after beating a top-ranked player.

"I think in every time that I go into a match now, people are going to know that," Kyrgios said. "They are going to expect me to do well out there."

According to Kyrgios, he looks at it as a motivation, which gives him confidence in all his future matches and tournaments. On the topic of Kyrgios' confidence on the tennis court, Australian former World number one and two-time Grand Slam champion Pat Rafter has good advice for the 19-year-old, who had received criticisms in the past due to his on-court attitude. Rafter said that there is a danger in Kyrgios' confidence if it goes too far. Rafter added that Kyrgios should dive off the high board until he has made lots of trips in big match tennis tournaments. Kyrgios reportedly needs to keep his exuberance because Rafter believes that it is what is going to bring the teenager to the top.

Kyrgios started the 2014 season ranked 183rd in the world and finished the season at the 52nd spot. As with any tennis athlete, Kyrgios revealed that his ultimate goal is to be World number one. He said it has been his goal ever since and it will be his goal until he gets there.

Kyrgios will play at the 27th edition of the Hopman Cup, which will run from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15, 2015. He will be representing Australia with World No. 29 Casey Dellacqua in Group B, which also features Great Britain's Andy Murray and Heather Watson, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz and France's Alize Cornet and Benoit Paire. The players in Group A are United States' Serena Williams and John Isner, Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and Vasek Pospisil, Italy's Flavia Pennetta and Fabio Fognini and Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova and Adam Pavlasek. Australia's first match is set to take place on Jan. 4 against Poland.

To reach the author of this article, email r.corpuz@ibtimes.com.au.

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