"I am one of the best players in the world": Kyrgios backs himself ahead of Australian Open spotlight

Nick Kyrgios is in no shortage of confidence as the Australian backed himself ahead of the Australian Open saying he's one of the best players in the world.

The Australian certainly has a case to make that claim because at times he did play as one of the best players in the world. He's currently ranked as number 21 in the world but he could certainly improve upon that if he continues playing consistently as he did last year. He briefly talked after a practice in Melbourne:

"I am one of the best players in the world so I'm definitely going to go into the Australian Open, any tournament, with confidence. It's a bit different this time around for me being one of the favourites. Usually I'm a dark horse type thing but now, obviously after the year I've had, I'm one of the favourites so it's kind of new for me as well."

He added:

"This is the first time I've genuinely gone into a slam feeling like I'm one of the guys that can really take the trophy and knock on the door. I don't know what I'm going to be feeling when I get out there. Usually I've got nothing to lose and just putting on a show, but I've got to try to really find that balance. Fourteen days to win one of these things is not easy. Obviously I'm capable but so many other people are capable as well."