Nick Kyrgios was last on the field at the Laver Cup in Boston at the end of September, but accepted a wildcard for the main draw of the ATP 250 Melbourne Summer Set event, which begins on January 4.

The 26-year-old’s standings have slipped from inside the top 50 barely into the top 100 this year, but he remains a dangerous opponent, especially in Australia.

“Obviously, I’m thrilled to be playing at home,” Kyrgios told News Corp.

“Tennis Australia has done a great job of bringing things together and giving us more options to play at home ahead of the Australian Open.

“Giving me a wild card is awesome – I’ll do my best to put on a show for the fans. “

Kyrgios, who lost a five-set thriller to Dominic Thiem in the third round of this year’s Australian Open, has been training since leaving quarantine in October.

“I feel great. A friend of mine Dimi trained me in the gym and I had a few guys from different parts of Australia hit me in the last two months,” he said. he declares.

“I’m happy, looking forward to summer in Australia and keeping my fingers crossed, everything is going well for everyone involved.”

Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was supposed to be headlining the Melbourne pitch before revealing his positive Covid-19 test on Monday night.

Nadal now doubts whether he will even play at the Australian Open – but has not yet withdrawn from any tournament.

US giant Reilly Opelka and former Top 10 stars Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin, Kei Nishikori and Kevin Anderson are also set to join Kyrgios in Melbourne.

Fellow Australians Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson have also entered, while Australian Open main contender Aleks Vukic is set to start his year there.

Kyrgios, who was ranked No.13 five years ago, ended his season after just eight events and having skipped the French Open.

“I have to go home… My mother is not doing very well with her health. I would like to go back and see her, ”he said in September.

“I’m not one of those players who will be looking for points or distinctions. I feel like I have nothing more to prove to myself. I am incredibly proud of what I have accomplished.

Kyrgios has hinted that this was the last time he would compete in the international teams event and that he was unlikely to play tennis in his 30s.

In addition to his career top-15 ranking, his accomplishments include the quarterfinals of the 2015 Australian Open and Wimbledon 2014, where he defeated Nadal in a stunning knockdown.

Kyrgios also claims victories over Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.