The West Australian exclusive

Controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios top of Tennis West wish list for this summer

Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
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Camera IconAustralian tennis star Nick Kyrgios could be on his way to Perth this summer. Credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is at the top of Tennis West’s wish list to play in Perth this summer as international tennis prepares for a return to WA for the first time since 2020.

The West Australian understands Kyrgios, who last month played in a Wimbledon final and recently won in Washington ahead of a US Open campaign, is their No.1 target.

World No.37 Kyrgios last played in Perth when he represented Australia in the 2017 Hopman Cup, which he won the previous year alongside Daria Gavrilova.

It is hoped the Australian team would be one six to play in the Perth leg of the ATP Cup, which made its debut in 2020 in three states before COVID-19 and border issues forced it to be an eastern states event for the past two years.

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Kyrgios would likely be the leader of a strong Australian that would include Alex de Minaur, who Kyrgios is set to play in Canada on Friday morning, as well as Thanasi Kokkanikis, Perth’s Wimbledon doubles champion Matt Ebden and his partner Max Purcell.

Tennis West chief executive Brett Patten denied to comment on the speculation but said they were in talks to get a big headline player for the return to international tennis to WA.

Perth is guaranteed the top-seeded team, which at this stage is likely to be Russia with Daniil Medvedev currently ranked number one in the world.

Medvedev, who was beaten by Kyrgios in the second round of the ATP 1000 in Montreal on Wednesday, was banned from playing in Wimbledon after all Russians and Belarusians were told they weren’t able to play because of the Ukrainian invasion.

Camera IconDaniil Medvedev is the number one ranked player, but his status to play in Australia as a Russian player is unknown. Credit: Paul Chiasson/AP

It is unclear if Medvedev and the Russian team would be cleared to play in Australia, with Tennis Australia believed to have yet made a decision.

If Medvedev and the Russian team are not permitted to come to Australia, it could open up the door for controversial tennis star Novak Djokovic to make his Australian return in Perth.

Djokovic was banned for three years from applying for a visa after being deported earlier this year, but the new Labor government’s relaxed vaccination rules on international arrivals has opened the door for his return as early as this summer.

The Serbian star, who won’t play at the US Open because of his vaccination status, is likely to rocket up the rankings towards the end of the year, with Djokovic likely to be favourite in the Paris ATP 1000, Davis Cup and the ATP Tour and Championship.

This could have him ranked No.1 come the end of the year when the draw is announced and have the Serbian team headed to Perth.

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