'My relationship with tennis can change easily, there are no goals,' Nick Kyrgios said

World no. 47 Nick Kyrgios hadn't competed for a year before entering this week's ATP 250 Murray River Open event in Melbourne, winning two matches to reach the third round.

Nick had to dig deep against Alexandre Muller in the first match, prevailing in three sets and facing the fellow Aussie Harry Bourchier in round two. Nick scored a 6-2, 7-6 triumph to advance into the last 16, staying calm in the crucial moments to seal the deal in straight sets. The Aussie had an extended dispute with the chair umpire in the second set's 11th game following a time violation, continuing to play and keeping his focus in the tie break's closing stages to move over the top and avoid a decider.

Speaking about his extended break from tennis and the new season's expectations, Kyrgios said he didn't miss the game much and that he has no goals set in front of him. Still, he wants to control his anger more efficiently and give his best every time he steps on the court.

"When I look down, it brings me back memories of how Kobe would have competed, and how he would have been remembered. When I'm on the court, I know like I've been around the Tour for a while now. I feel like I'm not going to get as angry as I used to. I feel as if I know what tennis style I need to be playing to win matches now. I still get frustrated, but I could have gotten angry today when he got the net tape to bring up the set point.

I stay composed, and that's the way it is. My relationship with tennis can change in a minute, but I think me being away from it, I'm not getting as angry as before. I don't know, it's instilled a lot of perspective in everyone, but I feel like I've had that throughout my career anyway. I haven't acted as if tennis is the be-and-end-all for me. I take it day by day; I don't set any goals.

I don't want to say I'm going to play tennis for longer or shorter. I want to take it day by day, show up every day, try and play good tennis, be positive and a better role model than I was last year; that's it," Nick Kyrgios said.