Nick Kyrgios posts cryptic video about people wanting their heroes to fail ahead of the Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios has opened up about the intense expectations he will face at this year’s Australian Open, before posting a cryptic video on social media that referenced people’s desire to see big names fall.

The 27-year-old is trying to overcome an ankle injury before the Grand Slam begins on January 16 and he is attending this year’s event with fans’ hopes that he will return after a superb 2022 season in which he won the men’s final -Reached singles, climbed up to Wimbledon and the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Kyrgios hinted that those two deep runs taught him some lessons that will come in handy when he takes to the pitch at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

“People will never understand the pressure I feel at this time of year. It’s always difficult to navigate,” he told News Corp.

Kyrgios competed with Underdone at the Australian Open last year and lost in the first round (pictured). He believes there is tremendous pressure on him to do far better at this year’s Grand Slam

Kyrgios has credited his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi (pictured together) with helping him turn his game around in 2022 as he had stellar runs at Wimbledon and the US Open

“I worked on a few things last year during Wimbledon and the US Open and will try to replicate the same things here in Australia.”

Earlier this week there was speculation his ankle could rule him out of the Australian Open after the star withdrew from the United Cup tournament and Adelaide International – prompting his manager Daniel Horsfall to blast critics who thought the Injury may not be real.

Kyrgios put all worries about his availability to bed, insisting his ankle “definitely feels better” and revealing he’s been training and doing exercises.

On Friday night he posted a video on his Instagram account showing a scene from the 2002 Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire and Willem Dafoe.

In it, Dafoe’s villainous Green Goblin character confronts Spider-Man during a fight, telling him, “You choose the hero’s path, and they found you amusing for a while, the people of this town.

“But the only thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall.”

The video appears to be a reference to Tall Mohn Syndrome, which Kyrgios spoke about just last month.

The 27-year-old posted a clip from the 2022 movie Spider-Man to his Instagram (pictured) on Friday in what appears to be a reference to tall poppy syndrome in Australia

Kyrgios last played in Dubai last month (pictured) before an ankle injury kept him from warm-ups for the Australian Open

On December 29, his manager Horsfall tweeted: “Why does tall poppy syndrome exist…especially in Australia compared to other Australians…blows me.”

Kyrgios responded by tweeting, “My brudda speaks facts.”

Last month he also criticized what he sees as the public’s insatiable desire for him to stay in the headlines.

“I learned that people will never have enough,” he told Eurosport.

“It’s always hard to be me. When I win a tournament or win something valuable, they always want more.

“It’s never like, okay, it’s time to rest. It’s like, right, do it again.’

Kyrgios will meet his first opponent at Rod Laver when the Australian Open draw takes place on January 12.