Murray challenges Kyrgios to break top 15

Nick Kyrgios should be setting his sights on a year-ending ranking inside the world's top 15 according to Andy Murray, and there's only one way to get there.

Andy Murray has set Australian tennis tyro Nick Kyrgios the goal of entering the world's top 15 by year's end.

But Murray, one of the tour's most committed trainers, says it's only going to be possible with hard work.

It was Murray who ended Kyrgios' tournament at Melbourne Park last year with a quarter-final dismissal in straight sets.

Kyrgios turned the tables last week, albeit in a non-ranking match, to earn a first win over Murray in the Hopman Cup.

"He's obviously an incredibly talented guy and he's very exciting to watch," Murray said on Monday.

"He has a big game and can cause a lot of players a lot of problems.

"Thirty in the world last year - a good goal for him would be to halve his ranking again this year.

"He played very well in some of the major events. He just needs to improve his consistency through the year and if he does that, he'll be right up at the top of the game."

The Scot was not keen to get out his crystal ball and forecast what Kyrgios' future holds.

"It's really impossible to say," he said.

"I'm not with him on a daily basis. I don't know what his work ethic is like.

"His game, he's capable of beating almost all of the players.

"To get to number one you have to do it through the whole year, it's no use doing it six or seven days through the year.

"Novak (Djokovic) last year made the final of every tournament he played except one and to get to number one you have to match that sort of consistency."


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Source: AAP


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