Sky's the limit at Wimbledon: Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios has big hopes for Wimbledon after proving his fitness with a straight-sets exhibition win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios earnestly believes he can become Australia's first Wimbledon champion in 15 years. (AAP)

From a doubtful starter last week, now Nick Kyrgios earnestly believes he can become Australia's first Wimbledon champion in 15 years.

"I honestly do think I can win it. Might need a bit of luck - and everything to fall into place - but I do believe I can win," Kyrgios said after making a successful return from a chronic hip injury at The Boodles exhibition event.

In his first outing since retiring hurt after taking a tumble during his first-round match at Queen's last week, Kyrgios cruised to a 6-4 6-4 win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber on Thursday.

"It's perfect preparation for me to come here and just sort of have a laid-back vibe but obviously play some pretty good tennis as well, so I'm feeling good," Kyrgios said.

"I took some time off after Queen's and just rehabbed and looked after it. I've had this hip injury pretty much for the last six, seven months so it's been giving me grief.

"But hopefully it's settled down a bit and I'm looking forward to playing Wimbledon."

Australia's top title hope at the All England Club, Kyrgios is convinced he can make another deep run now that his body is back on the mend.

He's ventured to the second week for the past three years and is hopeful of bettering his quarter-final run in 2014.

"Some would say I'm probably not in the best shape this year to go in and expect something, but I feel like if I'm serving well and I'm playing the right style of tennis, the sky's the limit at Wimbledon," Kyrgios said.

"Obviously anyone with a big game, the surface is pretty favourable."

Kyrgios admitted his stunning fourth-round defeat of Rafael Nadal three years ago on tennis's most famous centre court still fills him with belief every time he strolls through the Wimbledon gates.

"I draw confidence from it every time I go out on the court," he said.

"I know that I can produce that style of tennis and obviously I carry that confidence over into matches."

Seeded 20th, Kyrgios will likely wind up his Wimbledon preparations after Friday's draw with one last hit-out at The Boodles against Serbian Viktor Troicki.


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Source: AAP



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