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No doubles at US Open for Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios at the 2019 Australian Open. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
26th August, 2018
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Nick Kyrgios has ditched doubles to conserve fuel for what he hopes will be a fortnight-long US Open singles campaign.

Kyrgios played doubles in lead-up events in Washington and Toronto and has featured in the teams’ event in three of the past four years in New York.

But Australia’s injury-plagued star has learnt his lesson after cursing himself for dragging his fragile frame through near-40 degree heat on the eve of his Australian Open third-round win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earlier this year.

“I’m just trying to look after my body,” Kyrgios told AAP ahead of his first-round singles clash with Radu Albot, Tuesday’s feature night match on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

A two-times former US Open junior doubles champion, Kyrgios’s decision to forego a guaranteed split of $22,500 in prize money – and potentially a $475,000 pay day – could prove a wise one.

The 23-year-old will need to win two best-of-five-set matches in three days to set up a likely third-round showdown with Roger Federer and is expecting a tough enough opener against Albot without adding to his workload.

Despite his lowly ranking of No.95 in the world, the Moldovan reached the last 32 at Flushing Meadows last year and repeated the effort at Wimbledon two months ago with a shock first-round win over 2017 US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta.

“He’s a tough competitor to play at a grand slam because you know that his level is not going to drop at all throughout the match,” Kyrgios said.

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“He’s not going to blow you off the court but he’s going to compete for every point, so I know that I’ve got to be efficient in everything I do out there.

“I can’t waste too much energy at times, but I need to be aggressive and take my chances at times.

“It’s going to be a tough match, for sure.”

Some have questioned Kyrgios’s stomach for a fight but the dual grand slam quarter-finalist insists he’s ready to grind if need be.

“For sure. The game plan is to play aggressive but not to rush anything,” he said.

“I know that I’m going to have to have some good point structure against him.

“It’s going to be on my racquet completely so I’m going to have to be smart with the risks I take.

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“Just controlled aggression and I’m going to get a lot of opportunities on his serve. I know he doesn’t have the biggest serve, so I need to look after mine and put the pressure on his serve.”

Kyrgios is among seven Australians in action on Tuesday.

Alex de Minaur, Matt Ebden and John Millman  also open their campaigns, while former women’s champion Samantha Stosur takes on world No.2 and Australian Open titleholder Caroline Wozniacki in the first match on centre court.

Australia is assured of at least one winner on day two, with 20-year-old wildcard Lizette Cabrera up against compatriot Alja Tomljanovic.

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