Kyrgios says he will probably end his season if he wins the Australian Open
Related Story: Nick Kyrgios still bound for Brisbane despite spider bite Related Story: 'I want to help you': Umpire's pep talk stirs Kyrgios to controversial win at US Open
Nick Kyrgios has signalled some familiar frustration with his life as a tennis player, vowing to play a "very, very light schedule" in 2019.
In his first media conference of the new tennis season ahead of the Brisbane International tournament, Kyrgios made clear his lack of patience with the constant travel on tour that takes him away from home.
"I play enough tennis during the year, like I'm sick of it by the time I get home [for the off-season]," he said, adding that he did not pick up a racquet between seasons.
"I was away from home for about five-and-a-half months [in 2018] and I don't want to really ever do that again," he said.
Kyrgios's 2018 season ended in October when he headed home after an elbow injury.
He stressed the week-to-week grind of life on tour was something he wanted to avoid in the coming year.
"I'm going to play a very, very light schedule this year," Kyrgios said.
"If I was to win the Aus[tralian] Open or something, I probably wouldn't play for the rest of the year."
In response to a news organisation's post about his comments, however, Kyrgios played down his words to reporters.
"Lemme troll some more," he wrote on Twitter.
Kyrgios's on-court demeanour and off-court comments have long led to criticism, including when he received an extraordinary mid-match pep talk from an umpire at this year's US Open, who left his chair to beg the Australian to start trying for the sake of the paying crowd and to avoid being sanctioned for not giving his best effort.
One certainty for the new season is that Kyrgios will be short of preparation, after his hitting-free off-season and being taken out of commission for a few days around Christmas with a spider bite.
"I felt some sort of irritation on my foot a day before Christmas," he said.
"I just woke up on Christmas day and my foot was really swollen."
The Canberra native said he was feeling better after being given antibiotics to treat the bite.
Kyrgios will have a difficult assignment first up against American Ryan Harrison, whom he beat in the final to win last year's Brisbane International title at Tennyson.
"I'll probably be rusty [against Harrison] to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if I go out there and hit like 30 unforced errors," he said.
"It doesn't matter to me."
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
