Kyrgios still searching for answers

Despite enjoying a better mental state in 2017, Nick Kyrgios admits he remains unsure of what he wants to achieve in tennis.

Following a 6-3 6-1 defeat to Rafael Nadal in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open, Kyrgios said his attitude to tennis was improving despite still being a work in progress.

“I still don’t know what I want to do,” the Australian No.1 said.

“There was a point in time where if you said if I could win a Grand Slam tomorrow, that wouldn’t excite me. I’m just — I don’t know.

“I guess I don’t know if at the end of the day I want to be remembered as a great tennis player. I’d like to be someone remembered that did something for a greater cause than being just a good tennis player.

“That’s something I battled with. Last year I didn’t really know what I wanted out of the sport. Some days I didn’t want to play. I think I’m trying to battle with that now. I think I’m doing a good job.

“I think this year I’ve kind of pulled it together mentally.”

A factor setting Kyrgios back this week in Madrid was the recent death of his grandfather.

Kyrgios, scheduled to commence his claycourt season in Estoril, ultimately skipped the tournament and returned home to Canberra to attend the funeral and spend time with his family.

Arriving in Madrid without a red claycourt match under his belt, the Australian nonetheless won his first two rounds in the Spanish capital before being shown the door by a ruthless Nadal.

“I guess I was a bit flat. I mean, I think I’m just a bit under-done. I haven’t been training very much,” he said.

“(I) went from playing unbelievable tennis in Indian Wells and Miami, and then Davis Cup, then I kind of just went back home and had a rest. We see everything at home happened.

“I just haven’t been in the general gist of being a tennis player. I haven’t been training. I’ve just been doing nothing really.

“I wasn’t expecting myself to play well this week at all. I didn’t feel too good before the tournament on the court. Wasn’t playing well.

“(But) I won a couple rounds and lost to Rafa. I’m relatively happy with my first week on clay. But he played well tonight. He was by far the better player.

“I wasn’t expecting to beat him at all tonight, to be honest.”